Many Arms w/ Geoglyph 4/10/12 Cafe Nine

Duo opener Geoglyph is just drums and guitar/effects but create a lot of sound. Frenetic drumming on a simple kit reminded me of Ginger Baker and Chris Corsano. Guitar effects and loops also created a full sound worthy of two or three people. Effects dude had a suitcase of tricks like Gary Lucas. With a new release on John Zorn's Tzadik label, Many Arms was a power trio. Drums, guitar, and bass led the squall. This noise-improv world has few listeners, but these guys could play, made me think of Laswell's group with Ronald Shannon Jackson Last Exit.

De Profundis, Music for Low Instruments 3/28/12 Sprague Hall

Faculty and student arranged pieces for; sackbuts, bassoon, double bass, trombones, cellos, and tuba were the highlights from the low end. What a concept, and some eyebrow-raising arrangements from Mozart, Bach, and Penderecki. A sackbut is a mini trombone that sometimes needs an extender to reach the truly low notes. The double bass piece had the professor whispering at his bass while slapping and accosting with mallets.

The Joe Krown Trio 3/26/12 Cafe Nine

Who is Joe Krown? I don't know, but his trio consisted of Russell Batiste on drums, Walter Wolfman Washington on guitar, and Krown on organ. Krown must be NOLA royalty to get the other two out from their house band status at The Maple Leaf from the big easy. Funky trio with WWW occasionally singing, these guys had chops. Early show at the nine was well attended. Occasional Meters teases and soul classics were flowing.