Free: Ari Hoenig's Green Spleen

Word to the budget-wise: A free mp3 of drummer Ari Hoenig's funky-wah-wah composition "Green Spleen" is available here. Check it out.

It's from Hoenig's new CD "Bert's Playground" which dropped last month (on Dreyfus Jazz, a very cool French label).

Hoenig is joined by a raft of top-shelf NY jazzheads: Chris Potter and Will Vinson on their saxophones, Jonathan Kreisberg and Gilad Hekselman on their guitars, and doghousers Matt Penman and Orlando LeFleming (not all at the same time, of course, he's not Ornette Coleman). It's a mixture of new compositions and standards run through a sensibility that Hoenig refers to as "Punk Bop" which explains thusly:

"As a kid, I listened to a lot of punk and hardcore music as well as metal, reggae, funk, hip-hop, house and pop... I wanted to incorporate all my influences in this band..."

Long live the multiverse.

More info at Ari Hoenig's website and/or Myspace page.

Bonus viddie: Here's Hoenig's quartet (with Penman, Jean-Michel Pilc on piano and Jacques Schwartz-Bart on sax) perfroming "SKA" at the Fat Cat in NYC.

Free: Balitsaris and Bandoneon

I was on the Palmetto Records site earlier today checking out the new Bobby Watson album when I came across a couple of fine freebies:

• Bluegrass Girl, from the CD Big Black Sun by Matt Balitsaris & Jeff Berman
  This acoustic guitar and bass number (with shimmering vibes) conjures a beautiful sunrise in the woods. Reminiscent of "Under the Missouri Sky" and eminently diggable.

• Oblivion, from the CD Zonda by Conosur
  Conosur features Al Di Meola guitarist Hernan Romero and guitarist/producer Tony Viscardo leading an ensemble that also includes Weather Report percussionist Manolo Badrena. Oblivion is the group's tribute to Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla and features Argentinian bandoneon artist Raul Jaurena. Sad beautiful stuff.

• The other freebie up at the moment is a straight-ahead jazz number, which did nothing for me. Go figure.
  

Both Big Black Sun and Zonda are on sale for $8.99 which isn't free, but it is cheaper than iTunes and that's something.

TNLD says check it out.

Free: Surf and Sleigh

You're probably knocking yourself out (and your checking account for a loop) getting "holiday" gifts right about now. Fortunately, the folks at iTunes offering up something fun and free: a rollicking surf-punk version of Leroy Anderson's Sleigh Ride by L.A.'s Los Straightjackets from their 2002 album "Tis the Season for Los Straightjackets."

TNLD says act now (the free download is only good for a week or so)

The link comes courtesy of the excellent blog Free iTunes Downloads, which I recommend adding to your RSS reader if you're into that (or just check it out every so often, Grandpa). I've also updated the righthand column here with a Free Stuff nodule with links to other sites with freebies for you to stick in your ears.

Merry Grimble!