Author: No Business Records

Karl Berger | Kirk Knuffke | Moon | No Business Records

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Karl and I met when we shared the bill for an “Arts for Art” night of music dedicated to Ed Blackwell. Karl was a longtime associate of Ed’s. There were two duets featured that night. Karl played duo with the great William Parker and I was invited by drummer Gerald Cleaver to play duets from the record “El Corazon” and other tunes in tribute to Ed Blackwell and Don Cherry. Karl of course played a ton with Don too! After this meeting Karl and I became fast friends. Karl invited me to teach with him at the Creative Music Studio in Woodstock NY, and now I have 2 times. It was there that we played duo for the nightly Guiding Artist concert and the concept of this album was born. Playing with Karl is so free and natural. It is my sincere pleasure to have him as a friend and a musical brother. — Kirk Knuffke Continue reading →

Juan Pablo Carletti | Tony Malaby | Christopher Hoffman | NIÑO / BRUJO | No Business Records

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Tenorist Tony Malaby makes some really wonderful sounds here – but the album’s actually the brainchild of percussionist Juan Pablo Carletti – who composed all the tracks on the set! Malaby continues his wonderful sense of tone and texture here – blowing slow notes sometimes, which unfold like dark sonic flowers – mixed with lighter, tuneful passages that almost have a classic modern tenor quality – a space that seems to range from Rollins to Brotzmann, depending on the needs of the moment. Carletti plays drums, glockenspiel, and melodica – and Christopher Hoffman adds some especially great cello – which is often played at the lower, darker range of its spectrum, as a key component of the trio. Titles include “Lateral Thinking”, “El Brujo”, “Miranda”, “Ballerina”, and “Jose”. — Dusty Groove Continue reading →

Ted Daniel’s Energy Module | Innerconnection | No Business Records

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Trumpeter Ted Daniel’s Energy Module was a short-lived band. They played exactly two gigs in the course of one week in the fall of 1975—and never played again. They gelled quickly as a quintet, however, in large part because everyone knew each other from working in Daniel’s big band, Energy. However, the Energy Module was a less formal affair than the large ensemble, in which they played Daniel’s original compositions and arrangements. “We had a couple of rehearsals and played through the tunes, but our main focus was on collective and individual improvisation,” Daniel says. “We were getting ready to take care of business.” — Ed Hazell Continue reading →

Dave Burrell | Steve Swell | Turning Point | No Business Records

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Dave Burrell’s Turning Point, the third in a series of five suites commemorating the people and events of the Ainerican Civil War, is one of the crowning achievements in his career. A mature and passionate work, it weaves together 150 years of American history and music into a piece that grapples with some of the most horrifying moments in American history and yet remains profoundly hopeful. Born after a nine-month gestation period of historical research and rehearsals, the music evokes the harrowing events of mid-nineteenth century America through a vivid mix of sound imagery, stylistic references, and improvisation in an attempt to come to terms with the Civil War and its legacy. — Ed Hazell Continue reading →

Billy Bang | William Parker | Medicine Buddha | No Business Records

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Billy Bang was a brilliant human being, always much more than himself, especially when he surrendered to his true calling—that of musician, one who transforms music into magic, dancing instead of walking, jumping instead standing still. Billy Bang was an American original, an original musician, an organic person who had tapped into the river of sound and was riding on a boat drenched in blues-soul-funk and space. — William Parker Continue reading →