For those unaware, since the mid-1960s, Steve Tintweiss has played bass with Albert Ayler, Sam Rivers, Gato Barbieri, Patty Waters, Perry Robinson, Byard Lancaster, Burton Greene, and many other legendary jazz artists.

He founded the New York Free Music non-profit association in 1969 and has received grants from New York State Council on the Arts, Poets & Writers, Meet the Composer, and Queens Council on the Arts.

As Chairman/Founder of NY Free Music. Steve has produced concerts that present a wide range of styles, including jazz, rock, punk (including early Blondie performances in Forest Park), classical, dance, and poetry.

Live At Thompkins Square Park is a previously unheard free jazz gem featuring bassist Steve Tintweiss and his Purple Why in 1967. The sextet with clarinetist Perry Robinson and two drummers performs passionate ensembles along with Tintweiss’ catchy melodies, bringing back the unique ambiance of the late 1980’s avant-garde jazz scene.

1. warm-up and announcement [0:23]
2. Water [4:15]
3. Land [5:41]
4. N.E.S.W. Up/Down [7:35]
5. Are You Lonely? [2:02]
6. Waltz of Eternity [7:07]
7. Space Rocks [6:34]
8. California Sandra [10:46]
9. To Angel with Love [2:15]
10. Ramona, I Love You [10:47]
11. D-Drone [1:18]
12. Y Interlude [7:17]
13. The Purple Why [5:27]

After the fleeting sounds of a warm-up (although the noted announcement does not seem to be there), the band get underway with the organically hued, experimentally jagged pairing of Water and gently frenetic Land and then bring forth the New Orleans-imbibed N.E.S.W. Up/Down, the low slung nature of Are You Lonely?, the propulsive Waltz of Eternity, with the smoothly infectious Space Rocks along next.

With this unearthed live set being from one of the very early examples of the existence of the Purple Why collective, along next is the upbeat and joyful California Sandra which is itself backed seamlessly by the veritably shimmering To Angel with Love, the sharply grooved Ramona, I Love You, the flittering D-Drone, the music rounding out on the expansive nature of Y Interlude, coming to an all too soon close on the all-embracing The Purple Why.

Musicians:
Jacques Coursil - trumpet
Perry Robinson - clarinet
Joel Peskin - tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Steve Tintweiss - double bass, vocals, percussion, composer, leader
Randy Kaye - drums and piano
Laurence Cook - drums
Guest trumpeter James DuBoise

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