Thread where we discuss Nels Cline.

[Birds in Hell]

Wilco have toured Australia a few times with Nels (from memory) but have never come through here. I think I'd probably still go just for the chance to watch Nels, though one of his own shows would be a lot more exciting.

Stumbling around on YouTube just now, here's a great song from another Nels release I've yet to pick up - the first Nels Cline Trio LP, Silencer:

[Birds in Hell]

I haven't checked out the record Nels put out with Julian Lage late last year but I think I'm going to have to very soon, this is bewitching stuff:

[tragabigzanda]

[Birds in Hell]

I've spent a few evenings with Mr. Cline over the years, and he is always such a pleasure -- friendly, affable, and just genuinely seems to love the life of a musician. I think he'd probably be doing the exact same thing even if no one knew who he was.

You are my new favourite RMer, trag (and I am very envious).

[tragabigzanda]

[Birds in Hell]

My second-hand copy of the Nels Cline Trio's first album Silencer turned up today.

Funny to open up the cover and see Nels looking relatively baby-faced and ponytailed (I say relatively because he would already have been in his mid 30s by the early 90s when this was released):

[Kevin Davis]

How's the album? I need a new Nels album to dig into, the only ones I have are "Initiate" and "New Monastery."

[Birds in Hell]

How's the album? I need a new Nels album to dig into, the only ones I have are "Initiate" and "New Monastery."

I think it's fantastic, well worth picking up. He definitely had the core elements of his musical sensibility down from the very beginning of his career as a bandleader:

[Birds in Hell]

New record Lovers, out on 5 August - Nels' first album on Blue Note.

I have been dreaming about, planning, and re-working my rather obsessive idea of this record for well over twenty-five years, and it was always going to be called Lovers. It is meant to be as personal in its sound and in its song selection as it is universal in its endeavor to assay or map the parameters of “mood” as it once pertained, and currently pertains, to the peculiar and powerful connection between sound/song and intimacy/romance. In this, I hope Lovers offers something of an update of the “mood music” idea and ideal, while celebrating and challenging our iconic notion of romance.

—NELS CLINE




SIDE ONE

1. Introduction / Diaphanous 4:23 (music by Nels Cline)
2. Glad To Be Unhappy 4:07 (music by Richard Rodgers / lyrics by Lorenz Hart)
3. Beautiful Love 3:58 (music by Wayne King, Victor Young & Egbert Van Alstyne / lyrics by Haven Gillespie)
4. Hairpin & Hatbox 3:32 (music by Nels Cline)
5. Cry, Want 6:53 (music by Jimmy Giuffre)

SIDE TWO

1. Lady Gabor 8:26 (music by Gabor Szabo)
2. The Bed We Made 3:25 (music by Nels Cline)
3. You Noticed 4:01 (music by Nels Cline)
4. Secret Love 4:30 (music by Sammy Fain / lyrics by Paul Francis Webster)
5. I Have Dreamed 2:39 (music by Richard Rodgers / lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II)

SIDE THREE

1. Why Was I Born? 5:04 (music by Jerome Kern / lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II)
2. Invitation 2:26 (music by Bronislaw Kaper / lyrics by Paul Francis Webster)
3. It Only Has To Happen Once 5:45 (music and lyrics by Arto Lindsay & Peter Scherer)
4. The Night Porter / Max, Mon Amour 8:13 (music by Daniele Paris (The Night Porter) / music by Michel Portal (Max, Mon Amour))

SIDE FOUR

1. Snare, Girl 6:35 (music & lyrics by Sonic Youth)
2. So Hard It Hurts / Touching 6:53 (music by Annette Peacock)
3. The Search For Cat 2:33 (music by Henry Mancini)
4. The Bond 5:48 (music by Nels Cline)

NELS CLINE: electric & acoustic guitars, lap steel, effects
DEVIN HOFF: contrabass, bass guitar
ALEX CLINE: drumset, percussion
STEVEN BERNSTEIN: trumpet, slide trumpet, flugelhorn, alto horn
TAYLOR HASKINS: trumpet, flugelhorn, valve trombone
MICHAEL LEONHART: trumpet, flugelhorn, cymbalon, celeste
ALAN FERBER: trombone, bass trombone
CHARLES PILLOW: C, alto, & bass flutes, oboe, English horn, alto saxophone, Bb clarinet
JD PARRAN: C, alto, & bass flutes, Bb clarinet, alto clarinet, baritone & bass saxophones
BEN GOLDBERG: contra-alto clarinet, Bb clarinet
DOUGLAS WIESELMAN: bass clarinet, Bb clarinet, tenor saxophone
GAVIN TEMPLETON: Bb clarinet, alto saxophone
SARA SCHOENBECK: bassoon
JULIAN LAGE: acoustic & electric guitars
KENNY WOLLESEN: vibraphone, marimba, percussion
ZEENA PARKINS: harp
YUKA C HONDA: celeste, Juno 60
ANTOINE SILVERMAN: violin
JEFF GAUTHIER: violin
AMY KIMBALL: viola & violin
STEPHANIE GRIFFIN: viola
ERIK FRIEDLANDER: cello
MAGGIE PARKINS: cello

arranged and conducted by MICHAEL LEONHART
produced by DAVID BRESKIN
recorded and mixed by RON SAINT GERMAIN
album artwork by ANGELA DeCRISTOFARO

I am very, very into this:

[tragabigzanda]

[Kevin Davis]

Holy crap, I can't believe "Snare Girl" is on this -- I remember the first time I heard that song thinking, "I would really like to hear a jazz musician tackle an instrumental version of this." I think I even posted something like that on the old board. That is one of SY's most melodically rich songs, I can't wait to hear what Nels does with it.

"Glad to Be Unhappy" and "Secret Love" are great standard choices, too.

[Birds in Hell]

]That cast of players is huge, there are lots of vocalists, some covers (Snare, Girl?!), and this album seems like it has a far more defined vision than any of his others.

I agree with all of this except to note that I've seen it confirmed that the record is definitely still entirely instrumental (which I'm grateful for), the lyricists are simply listed so as not to short-change their songwriting contribution.

Going to go ahead and predict that there's nothing else being released this year that I will be this excited for.

[Birds in Hell]

[Kevin Davis]

Holy shit, I love everything about that video. The moment at about 3:10 when Nels looks at the camera. That horn player that looks like Stanley Tucci. I have never seen a guy in a skull cap conduct an orchestra. And that arrangement is flat-out Ellingtonian!

[Birds in Hell]

Incredible, isn't it?

My level of anticipation regarding this album is best described as feverish.

[tragabigzanda]

Top 10 maybe?
Hello Morning
Close Captioned
The Kill
Place/Position
Do You Like Me?
Latest Disgrace
Recap Modotti
Nightshop
Break
Life & Limb

I'd maybe bump Life & Limb for Epic Problem

[Jorge]

I'm excited!!!!!!

[tragabigzanda]

[Birds in Hell]

I haven't yet decided whether I'll do something wild and unprecedented and buy the double LP of the new record however, since all the physical copies have been delayed for whatever reason, I went ahead and bought the digital files earlier today.

My wife's going out tonight, I plan on sitting down for a serious listen once the kids are asleep.

[Birds in Hell]

It's a long record, so I just tackled what would be the first CD/LP last night.

Wow is all I can say; this record is incredible.

The arrangements are absolutely perfect and Nels' playing is lovely, thoughtful and understated throughout.