Wow…Gordon made friends with Captain Beefheart and spent time at Beefheart’s home studio while he was recording Trout Mask Replica!
Reviews by Dawoud Kringle
Artist: Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra
Title: Piety Street Adjacent
Format: album
Label: Adjacent Records
Genre: Downtown Music/NO WAVE/electronic funky music
Buy here
Peter Gordon is a mainstay on the New York composer’s scene. Gordon first gained attention when he founded the Love of Life Orchestra (LOLO) in 1977. The LOLO has existed as everything from a trio to over a dozen musicians.
Gordon and the LOLO have performed hundreds of concerts in venues such as Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Amsterdam’s Het Musiktheater, and at many festivals, nightclubs, and theaters. Gordon has also composed music for plays, music theater, dance companies (including Alvin Ailey, Stephen Petronio, Donald Byrd, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, and Molissa Fenley), and film. He has recorded several albums as a leader and has appeared on recordings by Robert Ashley, David Van Tieghem, Arthur Russell, Laurie Anderson, Rhys Chatman, Suzanne Vega, Flying Lizards, and David Johansen.
He is also a proud member of Musicians For Musicians (MFM).
Gordon’s most recent release which is credited to Love of Life Orchestra, but in reality features a quartet of Gordon on saxophones, synths, and samplers with guitarist Karel Winton, Jon Gross on sousaphone, and the late Kevin O’Day on drums. is Piety Street Adjacent.
This five-track album was produced by Peter Gordon and Ned Sublette and was released on his new label Adjacent Records this month. Recorded and mixed by Mark Bingham at Piety Street Studio, New Orleans.
“Westmusic” opens the album. A springy metallic beat and synthesizer sound set the stage for Gordon’s saxophone. A funky jazzy groove emerges, But it becomes immediately apparent that while it is funk, it’s something else. Gross’ sousaphone fills the role traditionally assigned to the bass guitar, giving it a subliminal connection to New Orleans / Dixieland jazz roots. The melodies create an otherworldly flavor within the stylistic and rhythmic framework. As the track progresses, unusual harmonies provided by the loops and samples and Winton’s guitar guide the music into startling moods and textures. The groove fades out at the end and is trailed by apprehensive ambient chords.
The beginning of “Specific Overtures” with Gordon’s saxophone makes its lyrical statement within a harmonic framework that evokes Charles Mingus and Vangelis seeking a common ground. Lush orchestral textures and strange electronic ornaments fill the background as Gordon narrates the melody. After a liberal exploration of this scenario, an ostinato emerges, with the sousaphone dancing with surprising delicacy and O’Day’s drum work providing interesting percussion ideas. Gordon continues his soloing over this backdrop as the musicians explore the nuances of the groove they created. The music morphs from one iteration of the groove to another in a seamless, indefinable, and organic way.
The (almost) title track “Piety Street” starts with a hip hop beat, the drummer playing masterfully organic, springy, liquid funk guitar chords, and Gross’ sousaphone taking a few cues from Marcus Miller. The saxophone in the beginning has a deeply contemplative quality without becoming morose. The mood becomes more assertive, yet never overpowering, while the music evolves and changes within the framework of its ostinato. It ends with startling abruptness.
It would be almost unfair of me to spoil the surprises ensconced within the remaining music in this album. Suffice it to say that the music holds many treasures waiting to be revealed to the listener. There is an amazing variety of ideas that never sacrifice the continuity and integrity of the overall picture of this collection. Peter Gordon and this manifestation of the Love of Life Orchestra has conjured a masterful musical statement.
FYI: LOLO 2023 at DFA Records 20th Anniversary, March 26, 2022
at Knockdown Center, Maspeth, Queens, New York City
Artist: Ferraniacolor + Peter Gordon
Title: Eunice
Format: single
Label: Adjacent Records
Genre: soundtrack/instrumental/avant-pop
Pay and listen here: https://ferraniacolor.bandcamp.com/track/eunice
Ferraniacolor is an indie pop trio from Naples, Italy, They were formerly known as Panoramics. Their 1989 album Bugie Colorate (produced by Peter Gordon) received favorable critical reviews and was considered one of the best Italian pop records of its time.
Gordon and Ferraniacolor renewed their artistic partnership to produce an instrumental single titled “Eunice.” Ferraniacolor features Marco Alfano (Keyboards), Ludovico Bova (Guitars), and Luca Zarrilli (Saxophones). Gordon (sopranino and alto saxes and harmonica).
The music starts with a repeated figure on piano with horns punctuating a melody on top of the insistent drive. Some very interesting chord changes emerge. At times, some very interesting contrasts happen where some unexpected counterpoints and musical surprises peak out of the break in the groove. It ends with the music gently deconstructing itself and a few lone notes on Gordon’s harmonica bidding farewell to the listener.
There is a vibe to this track reminiscent of Steely Dan and David Sanborn. The composition and performance are all first-rate, and the overall performance creates a wonderful feel.
