The Poison Pie Publishing House presents:

March 1, 2026
By morning the cold spell had snapped. The donkeys were less reserved with their energy, introducing themselves to Andromache with sociable brays. Megaera saw her watching the animals from a distance. "If you want them to befriend you, you have to groom them." They were both geldings, Thon and Ion, the latter being distinguished by rings of pale hair around his eyes. Andromache brushed their coats then set them loose to forage. "There's no need to watch them," said Exekias, "They won't go far and there's no predators on this island, save one."

written while listening to:  Andrea Lombardini, Michel Godard & Emanuele Maniscalco - Diminuendo (C.A.M. Jazz, CAMJ 7905-2, 2016, Italy, cd, discogs.com)

March 2, 2026
Of course, the predator to whom Exekias alluded dwelt in a stone labyrinth beneath the surface of Crete. Andromache knew his domain well, few better she supposed. The Minotaur possessed no appetite for the flesh of donkeys. It preferred maidens, ideally stewed in the juices of their own anxiety for a year or more. She reminded herself that she had escaped. However, the fact that even an oblique reference to the beast curdled the breakfast in her stomach prompted her to doubt whether she was finished navigating the twisted corridors of the mine.

written while listening to:  Guillaume Gargaud & Marc Edwards - Black Hole Universe (Atypeek Music, no catalog #, 2019, France, cd, discogs.com)

March 3, 2026
To be plagued by dark thoughts of a past she craved to forget seemed an inauspicious start to a day in which she was to launch her professional career as a musician. The others in camp detected the shadows of clouds dimming her spirits but knew not their origin. Triballos withdrew his aulos and began to play a jaunty tune. "Synder," he barked between notes, "grab your flute and practice with me. Can't have us sounding like we just threw somebody on stage that we found lost in the woods the night before last."

written while listening to:  Great Waitress - Lucid (Splitrec, splitrec 22, 2011, Australia, cd, discogs.com)

March 4, 2026
Like any artisan true to their craft, the members of this troupe knew well the daily discipline of practice. As they went about the camp routine, each member took short breaks to join for a song or two the music in their midst. As the cast rotated, Andromache heard for the first time Papa Krokodeilos play the pandoura, a three-stringed lute that he had named, 'My Mistress'. "Mama Chloë," he claimed teasingly, "is ever jealous of me plucking and caressing her strings 'til she sings with delight." His wife obligingly rolled her eyes and kept working.

written while listening to:  Derek Bailey & Greg Goodman - Extracting Fish-Bones from the Back of the Despoiler (The Beak Doctor, BD10, 2017 (rec. 1992), United States, lp, discogs.com)

March 5, 2026
The day passed uneventfully. An hour before sunset all gathered their instruments and walked as a group to the tavern. Papa Krokodeilos led his entourage past their destination, taking a round-about tour of the village. Andromache was careful to avoid spots in the unpaved streets where the sun had softened the frozen mud. Along the way, residents saw the band and had their curiosity piqued by the admittedly strange collection of musicians. The exclamations greeted them, "Look, Ma, a giant!" or followed them, "I hope he plays the lute better than he looks."

written while listening to:  zeitkratzer & Keiji Haino - Electronics (zeitkratzer Records, zkr 0006, 2008, Germany, cd, discogs.com)

March 6, 2026
The building was called a tavern, but it had not always been so. Originally, it was two separate single-story houses, resting on stone rubble foundations with mud brick walls. Some decades ago, the buildings had been joined and the walls extended in height. On all sides save that facing the street, additional rooms had been added over time in a rather haphazard way. They provided a larger kitchen and additional dining areas. The floor had been raised in one such room to serve as a stage. Before most patrons had arrived, the octet filed into this space.

written while listening to:  Joëlle Léandre - Lifetime Rebel, disc 3 (RogueArt, ROG-0137, 2024, France, cdx4, discogs.com)

March 7, 2026
The proprietor had never named the tavern, it being the only one in town. The venue was thus known by the same name, Lampo's. The man himself was second in local authority only to the elected headman and was accustomed to deference. Burly and bearded, Lampo showed the musicians to the stage then busied himself directing his sons, who delivered wood for the fireplaces and a half hog to the kitchen. His wife supervised their daughters, aged six to sixteen, in sweeping the floors and wiping down tables. They anticipated a busy night.

written while listening to:  Køs - Worldsorrow (Sonic Transmissions Records, STRLP37, 2025, Norway, lp, discogs.com)

March 8, 2026
The band arranged themselves on the tight confines of the stage. Their usual places needed adjustment due to Andromache's arrival. They formed two arcs, with the five men in the back, ordered from left to right: Exekias, Triballos, Papa Krokodeilos, Hektor and Grandpa Dumpling propped on a chair. The three women were in the front row with Mama Chloë taking center stage, flanked by Megaera and Andromache. "Shouldn't I be in the back?" asked Andromache. "Oh, now she's the bandleader!" scoffed Hektor, eliciting laughter.

written while listening to:  Evan Parker, John Edwards & Chris Corsano - A Glancing Blow (Clean Feed, CF085CD, 2007, Portugal, cd, discogs.com)

March 9, 2026
Timber beams spanned the ceiling. Mud-plastered clay formed the roof of the main structure, while thatch covered the additions. Not even the most optimistic among them would have argued that the space had been designed with acoustics in mind. They performed a sound check, tuning their instruments then exploring how an array of notes rebounded through the dimensions of building. Papa Krokodeilos squeezed off stage and stood in the center of the room next to the central fireplace. He had them play one by one then all at once before nodding approval.

written while listening to:  Mats Gustafsson, Ken Vandermark, Tomeka Reid & Chad Taylor - Pivot (Silkheart, SHCD168, 2025, Sweden, cd, discogs.com)

March 10, 2026
Though Andromache had heard each instrument during the day's practice, we now provide a complete account for the reader. Exekias played the tympanon, a shallow hand drum as wide as his shoulders. Rapping along the wooden rim produced a sharp retort while thumping the center of the stretched oxhide created a deep bass rumble. Beside him, Triballos played the aulos. The dwarf identified the frequencies of drone from the double-reeded flute that resonated in the space. Some he would avoid and others he would reserve for dramatic effect.

written while listening to:  Angelika Niescier, Thomas Morgan & Tyshawn Sorey - Quite Simply (Enja Records, ENJ-9574 2, 2011, Germany, cd, discogs.com)

March 11, 2026
As previously noted, Papa Krokodeilos strummed the three-stringed pandoura. His fingers moved with alacrity along the neck, producing a precise array of rapid notes that rang in the air. Hektor blew on the pan flute or syrinx as it was called in those days. Its ethereal notes granted a supernatural element to the otherwise worldly music. Grandpa played the krotala, or wooden clappers, one in each hand. He kept his own rhythm. He had never liked being told what to do; now that he relied on others for basic needs, music was his only means of independence.

written while listening to:  Roscoe Mitchell Quartet - Live at "A Space" 1975 (Sackville Recordings/Delmark Records, SK 2080, 2013 (rec. 1975), Canada/United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 12, 2026
Mama Chloë sat on a stool with a tortoiseshell lyre in her lap. From its seven strings, she plucked notes of a more languid demeanor than those of her husband's lute. To her right, Megaera hulked in the small space. She surveyed the tavern with sounds brash and timid from her cymbals before turning to her voice and repeating the process. Finally, Andromache played the old flute that she had found abandoned in a miner's camp in the maze of Minos. Lonely, winding notes wandered between the empty tables, hinting at a history better left unspoken.

written while listening to:  Jandek - Fort Worth Saturday, disc 2 (Corwood Industries, CORWOOD 0838, 2020, United States, cdx2, discogs.com)

March 13, 2026
The audience with money to spare arrived early for a meal. They were treated to what Papa Krokodeilos called dinner music. Toward the beginning, the simple melodies took interesting turns, sending musical signals that diverted the attention of the diners from their conversations. After the food was served, the tunes played the role of digestif, a pleasing sequence of songs intended to complement the satisfaction of a full belly without lulling the audience to sleep. New to these nuances, Andromache tuned her ear to the lyre, following Mama Chloë's lead.

written while listening to:  Ahmad Jamal - Outertimeinnerspace (Impulse!/ABC Records, AS 9226, 1972, United States, lp, discogs.com)

March 14, 2026
A small crowd formed outside the tavern. At the sight, Lampo changed his mind on the spot, imposing a modest cover charge. While his sons shifted tables to clear a space in front of the stage, he collected money as the audience filed inside. More villagers arrived and he continued to fill his pockets until his wife informed him that they were at capacity. The rest were turned away. Some remained standing in the street, bathed in cold moonlight, listening to the muffled music emerge through the shutters over the high-set windows.

written while listening to:  Laura Altman - Holy Trinity (Relative Pitch Records, RPRSS047, 2025, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 15, 2026
The first song of the after-dinner set was well known to all. Megaera sang to the accompaniment of Mama Chloë's lyre. "I am a stone reflection. Seikilos placed me here as a long-lasting symbol of undying remembrance. As long as you live, shine forth. Do not at all grieve. Life exists for a short while. Time takes its course." When she had finished singing the lyrics, the rest of the band joined in extending the tune. Beginning the performance in this way helped the audience set aside their worries and immerse themselves in the music of the moment.

written while listening to:  Amir ElSaffar Two Rivers Ensemble - Inana (Pi Recordings, PI41, 2011, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 16, 2026
Naught but two songs passed before the swaying in the crowd made clear their collective desire to dance. Subtly repeating a measure, Papa Krokodeilos signaled the rest of the band, save Andromache, to wind down early the present tune. Luckily, it took no more than a glance from Mama Chloë to relay the message to their new flutist. The band had in its repertoire any number of dances appropriate to various gatherings. In a teasing manner, the lutist suggested one idea with a few notes of the melody. From the audience issued an excited murmur.

written while listening to:  Ernesto Diaz-Infante - Bats in the Lavender Sky (Ramble Records, RAM-116, 2022, Australia, lp, discogs.com)

March 17, 2026
The crowd squeezed back, filling the gaps between those tables not already pushed to walls. In the opening, men and women formed the largest circle possible, given the space. Others inclined to dance would have to wait their turn. The dancers joined hands and performed a syrtos. Their exuberance was plain to see. The unexpected arrival of a band in the cold of winter made the celebration all the more special. Megaera's exhortation to shine forth echoed in their minds. Tomorrow, they would return to work but tonight they would dance.

written while listening to:  Charles Ives - Symphony No. 3, The Unanswered Question & Three Places in New England (RCA Victor Red Seal, 09026-61222-2, 1992, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 18, 2026
The band played several regional versions of the syrtos to accommodate all those who wished a chance to participate. The steps were simple and well known. With hands linked, the circle rotated, each dancer tugging the next along. To the accompaniment of the strings, reeds, pipes and percussion, audience members rhythmically chanted, shouting "Yay!" to mark the cadence. From Andromache's perspective, it seemed easy to induce in the crowd an unrestrained ebullience and also natural to allow her own playing to reflect the energy around her.

written while listening to:  John Zorn - The Circle Maker, disc 1 (Tzadik, TZ 7122, 1998, United States, cdx2, discogs.com)

March 19, 2026
At one point, the bellowing voice of Lampo broke the silence before the band could strike up the next song. He announced an intermission to allow the musicians to eat and replenish their energy. In truth, he also wanted an opportunity for the audience to visit the bar. A son escorted the band to a side room adjoining the kitchen where a daughter served stewed pork, fresh bread and wine. At the family table, Papa Krokodeilos said a blessing then added, "The show goes well. Enjoy this meal then we finish the night."

written while listening to:  Hank Mobley - The Turnaround (Blue Note, BST-84186, 1965, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 20, 2026
The last set began with Megaera's tale of flight from the violence of life among frost giants. She stood up straight, emphasizing her height, very much a giantess herself. Her deep voice rumbled through the tavern. The clash of her cymbals rang with each blow in the battle. Triballos visited those frequencies that resonated with the structure, recreating the echoes of a stone canyon. The audience stood riveted. The breadth of the entertainment had already far exceeded their expectations and many wondered what other wonders yet lay in store.

written while listening to:  Loren Mazzacane-Connors & Alan Licht - Hoffman Estates (Drag City, DC151CD, 1998, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 21, 2026
Next came a series of songs in which only part of the band played. Grandpa Dumpling, Exekias and Megaera performed as a percussion trio, creating a rolling cascade of intricate rhythms that showcased their impeccable timing. Papa Krokodeilos and Mama Chloë played a placid string duet, both humming along as the crowd listened raptly. Standing on stage with closed eyes, Andromache enjoyed the music as much as everyone else in the tavern. Then she joined the pan flute and aulos for a variation of the night music that had welcomed her to the camp.

written while listening to:  Steve Lacy Sextet - Scraps (Saravah, SH 10049, 1974, France, lp, discogs.com)

March 22, 2026
Papa Krokodeilos announced they would play three more songs. He asked for volunteers, who knew the steps of the geranos, to come forth. Two middle-aged mothers left their husbands' sides and the audience cleared around them. The sparse clack of Grandpa Dumpling guided a slow-paced dance in which the pair wandered, twisting and turning as if navigating the labyrinth in the dark. This village had created their own lyrics to the song, which the crowd sang as a chorus. A chill ran through Andromache for these people dwelt in the shadow of the Minotaur.

written while listening to:  Eleonora Kampe - In Anticipation Vol. 1 (self-released, no catalog #, 2024, Estonia, digital files, discogs.com)

March 23, 2026
The penultimate song featured a vocal duet between husband and wife. Mama Chloë exchanged places with Exekias while Andromache moved to the side to allow him to take center stage with Megaera. To a gentle accompaniment, the couple sang a ballad of lovelorn youths, who found happiness only in each others' arms and promised their undying fidelity. Andromache had not heard Exekias sing. His voice was not as deep as that of Megaera but earnest and lovely in its own right. In the crowd, couples clutched each other and swayed together.

written while listening to:  Sonny Rollins - The Complete Prestige Recordings, disc 6 (Prestige, 7PCD-4407-2, 1992 (rec. 1956), United States, cdx7, discogs.com)

March 24, 2026
The audience cheered enthusiastically at the end of the ballad. Papa Krokodeilos waited for the applause to recede before beginning the encore. It was a tradition for the band to conclude a show with the same melody, during which he announced, one at a time, each musician, who then stepped forward as the featured soloist. "Hektor on syrinx," he said. The other instruments retreated and the notes of the pan flute filled the tavern. After a short solo, raucous applause erupted, soon followed by "Triballos on aulos" and so on, until each member was recognized.

written while listening to:  Irene Aranda, Johannes Nästesjö & Núria Andorrà - Inner Core (Relative Pitch Records, RPR1071, 2018, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 25, 2026
"Megaera on cymbals" drew the loudest response, for the lyrics and delivery of her three songs had left a deep impression on the audience. In turn, Andromache had her moment. "Introducing Synderesis on flute," said the bandleader with obvious zeal. Andromache delivered a snippet of her wandering music and the crowd politely clapped for the flutist too. Finally Mama Chloë announced Papa Krokodeilos, who plucked for a minute on his lute, before the audience replied with a thunderous display of their appreciation. With that, the show was over.

written while listening to:  Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Clark Terry & the Oscar Peterson Big 4 - The Trumpet Summit Meets the Oscar Peterson Big 4 (Pablo Today, 2312-114, 1980, United States, lp, discogs.com)

March 26, 2026
The band left the stage and waited in the side room until the tavern emptied. In general, Papa Krokodeilos advised them not to mingle with the audience after concerts, an exception being made only when there was a wealthy patron present who might wish to express their delight in the performance with a charitable gift. Absent a benefactor, he wished to avoid awkward, fawning praise, immoderate curiosity in the physical anomalies of the band members and unwanted propositions by inebriated patrons seeking private time with the women in the group.

written while listening to:  Colin Stetson - Uzumaki (Milan, no catalog #, 2024, United States, lp, discogs.com)

March 27, 2026
When the tavern had quieted, the musicians made their way to the central fireplace. The family of Lampo were returning the tables and chairs to their proper places before cleaning them. Lampo himself was in exceedingly high spirits, for not on even on festivals did he make such a windfall, much less an otherwise run-of-the-mill night in mid-winter. Abandoning all pretense of negotiation, he made no attempt to conceal his pleasure. He paid Papa Krokodeilos nearly twice what the bandleader had hoped then said, "Let's do it again tomorrow night."

written while listening to:  Miles Davis - 'Round About Midnight (Columbia, CL 949, 1957, United States, lp, discogs.com)

March 28, 2026
Lampo explained to the band, who had not viewed the scene in the street, how he had been forced to turn customers away. More than a few had spent a considerable time listening outside. As Andromache would learn, theirs was a tour without fixed schedule. Once Papa Krokodeilos felt the heft of the silver in his pouch, he was inclined to accept the offer. He looked to his wife who nodded in agreement. Such good fortune was infrequently encountered and not to be squandered. Lampo's wife plied Mama Chloë with left-overs to take back to camp for breakfast.

written while listening to:  William Basinski - Cascade (2062, 2062.1501, 2015, United States, cd, discogs.com)

March 29, 2026
The chill in the night air scarcely muffled their good moods. Each carried their instrument at their sides, save Megaera who bore Grandpa Dumpling in her arms and Exekias who held both his drum and his wife's cymbals. In the moonlight, they made their way back to the camp at the edge of the village, saying little to each other, for what words could compare to that statement of life that had been announced by their instruments tonight? Besides, the hour was late and they were tired. One of the donkeys sounded a welcoming bray at their return.

written while listening to:  Melaine Dalibert & David Sylvian - Vermilion Hours (Ici d'ailleurs, MT022, 2025, France, cd, discogs.com)

March 30, 2026
Reticent to abandon the residual feeling from the performance, the musicians lingered around the fire, where embers hidden beneath a fragile shell of ash still smoked. For Andromache, the sensation was like a pleasant dream from which she did not wish to be woken. The fact that they would soon repeat the ritual eventually dispersed the group. Papa Krokodeilos bade them good night and followed Mama Chloë to their tent. Only Triballos seemed intent to remain. He replenished the fire, sat down on a log and began to quietly play.

written while listening to:  John Williams - Star Wars Original Soundtrack, disc 2 (Polydor, 800 096-2, 1986 (orig. 1977), United States, cdx2, discogs.com)

March 31, 2026
Before she left, Megaera asked Andromache, "What do you think?" In the afterglow of the performance our heroine supposed this night to be the greatest of her life. She had participated as if she belonged to this group, as if playing came naturally to her. Of course, this notion presumes that we can consider anything natural that required one year of solitary training while deprived of all other avenues of expression in a dark, subterranean confinement! This thought dimmed her joy and she was therefore circumspect in her response. "I could get used to it."

written while listening to:  Henryk Górecki - Kleines Requiem Für Eine Polka, Harpsichord Concerto & Good Night (Nonesuch, 9 79362-2, 1995, United States, cd, discogs.com)