Qbico

Qbico
	Artist: Title: Label: Format: Price:	Faruq Z. Bey with Northwoods Improvisers Infa'a Qbico LP $22
Restocked, out-of-print, just a couple copies here. “Qbico often has cool color-swirled vinyl, but this time it seems like it’s mood-vinyl, a soothing and fervent green spins around the turntable almost as an entrancing as this release itself. There are minor flashes of red and blue and white…but the green is elemental and rich. This supports the garden of sound cultivated here, Bey’s sax takes deep roots, often shadowed and wrapped with brotherly vines from fellow saxmen Mike Carey and Skeeter Shelton. Nick Ashton’s drums drop dewdrops on all the players, moist with cymbals plenty. Mike Gilmore’s vibes are what make this so green…so alive…hell they even make a track called “Ethiopia” sound lush. That has a nice mystic run to it, and in the latter half bassist Mike Johnston and Ashton get one of those infinite grooves ala Parker and Drake going, magic carpet rise! Again Gilmore is the sonic photosynthesis here…listen to him wrap up that “Ethiopia” number. On the flipside we explore life on “After Death” with Mike Carey communicating via kalimba and Bey slowly stirring the song along. Again an almost Egyptian flare rises from the ashes, if anyone stumbles on this review by way or searching jazz and Gilmore, as Sun Ra built an Arkestra that took to the skies, in Detroit Faruq Z. Bey and his Northwoods are in full bloom. Pristine earth soul jazz.” – Thurston Hunger KFJC FM on-line review.
	Artist: Title: Label: Format: Price:	Dennis Gonzalez & Faruq Z. Bey with Northwoods Improvisers Septet Hymn for Tomasz Stanko Qbico LP $24
“180 gram orange vinyl with gold mixed in, cover by Mike Rudolph. Recorded on 11/04/04 and 3/13/05 by Mike Johnston & Dennis Gonzales. 3rd vinyl release on Qbico by this great ensemble. Here, as a septet with special guest trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez, they play homage to one of the most underrated trumpet players ever! Back to the roots...” A beautiful record; just a couple copies here. Dennis Gonzalez – trumpet, percussion Faruq Z. Bey – tenor, alto saxophone, gong Mike Carey – bass clarinet, tenor saxophone Skeeter C. R. Shelton – soprano, tenor saxophone Mike Gilmore – vibes, marimba, saz, tamboura Mike Johnston – bass, percussion Nick Ashton – drums, percussion
	Artist: Title: Label: Format: Price:	Various Artists Qbico U-Nite I, New York City Qbico 2LP $35
For this project, Qbico Records brought together a bunch of open-minded musicians from a multitude of backgrounds and generations, with the objective of everyone coming together for a collective throw-down. Side B is a notable hoot. Recorded live at Tonic on March 18, 2004. Found a couple more of these, very last copies. “Thunderously heavy two LP set from Qbico documenting a night in New York where some of the hardest working lungs still in the service of liberated fire - Arthur Doyle, Perry Robinson, Daniel Carter, Charles Waters, Shanir Ezra Blummenkranz and Andrew Barker - plotted various tactical formations with brains of a whole other order, including Ed Wilcox of Temple Of Bon Matin, Nuuj of Pengo/Asthmatic, Dave Cross Of Coffee, Leslie Q and Vinnie Paternostro. Freely-improvised avant-guerilla spurt in the spirit of the LAFMS/MEV and avant/rock coalitions like BAG. First time Doyle has played together with Robinson and Carter since the loft-scene days of the 1970s... Comes in absurd full-colour gatefold sleeve with poem from Steve Dalachinsky.” – David Keenan, The Wire / Volcanic Tongue side A: Steve Dalachinsky- Phenomena of interference (excerpt) Andrew Barker/Charles Waters duo & trio with Daniel Carter side B: Andrew Barker/Charles Waters/Daniel Carter/Shanir-Ezra Blumenkranz/Perry Robinson 5et side C Arthur Doyle/Nuuj duo Arthur Doyle Electro-Acoustic Ensemble with special guests Daniel Carter and Perry Robinson side D Arthur Doyle Electro-Acoustic Ensemble with special guest Daniel Carter Arthur Doyle solo
	Artist: Title: Label: Format: Price:	Various Artists Qbico U-Nite IV, Aarjus, Denmark Qbico 2LP $35
“Double LP set documenting two Qbico hosted nights in Denmark that featured a big band free jazz wig-out led by saxophonist Daniel Carter (Test/Other Dimensions In Music et al) and featuring Vin Paternostro on soprano sax, Marc Gade on tuba, Pernaus Salon on recorder, soprano sax and clay flute 'Qbico' on balalaika, vocals, percussion and violin and Ed Wilcox (Temple Of Bon Matin et al) on drums and harmonica. There's also some premier trio blats led by Carter alongside Paternostro and Wilcox that succeeds in raising the roof and a particularly massive side-long work from Denmark's own Family Underground.” – Volcanic Tongue Side A: Global Experience Orchestra Side B: Family Underground Sides C and D: Daniel Carter/Vin Paternostro/Ed Wilcox