Michael Marcus | Lenwood Turner | John Austria | Rashaan Carter | Clifford Barbaro | Darrell Green | Emannuel Harrold | Jay Rosen | Russell Carter | For Yes! | Not Two Records

Michael Marcus – Bb clarinet | Lenwood Turner – trumpet | John Austria – Rhodes piano (#1,2,5,6,8,9) | Rashaan Carter – bass | Clifford Barbaro – drums (#8) | Darrell Green – drums (#5) | Emanuel Harrold – drums (#3) | Jay Rosen – drums (#2,4,6,7) | Russell Carter – drums (#1,9). All compositions by Michael Marcus – Marmisun Publ. – ASCAP. Recorded and edited in New York City in May-June-July 2010 at Soulsounds Studios. Mastered by Christian Ravaglioli at Molino Ballardini Studio, Italy. Produced by Michael Marcus and Rashaan Carter. Executive producer: Marek Winiarski for Not Two Records. Art design: Marmisun Productions. Special thanks to all the artists who participated in this unique and special musical communion…To Marek Winiarski of Not Two Records for continuing to believe in my visions…A special, special thanks to my friend Rashaan Carter for collaborating with me to make this art piece a reality. — Michael Marcus, July 2010 Continue reading

Daniel Carter | Alberto Fiori | Tom Abbs | Federico Ughi | Perfect Blue | Not Two Records

Daniel Carter – alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet | Alberto Fiori – piano | Tom Abbs – bass | Federico Ughi – drums. Recorded on December 2, 2008 at Park West Studios, Brooklyn, NY by Jim Clouse. Edited by Alberto Fiori. Mixed and mastered on May 8, 2009 at ARTESOUND RECORDING STUDIO, Cavalicco, Udine, Italy, by Stefano Amerio. Produced by Alberto Fiori. Quartet photo by Alberto Fiori. Layout by Marek Wajda. All music by D. Carter / A. Fiori / T. Abbs / F. Ughi except # 1/3/5 by D. Carter / A. Fiori Continue reading

Oluyemi Thomas | Ijeoma Thomas | Michael Bisio | Kenn Thomas | Positive Knowledge – Edgefest Edition | Not Two Records

Oluyemi Thomas – bass, musette, flute, soprano, percussion | Ijeoma Thomas – voice , percussion | Michael Bisio – bass | Kenn Thomas – piano. Compositions by Ijeoma & Oluyemi Thomas (OLUIJEO UNIT MUSIC, ASCAP), Michael Bisio (AMB MUSIC, ASCAP), Kenn Thomas. Recorded by Oluyemi Thomas at Edgefest / Kerrytown Concert House, Ann Arbor, MI, October 15, 2009. Mixed and mastered September 2010 by Rafal Drewniany (DTS Studio). Cover photo by Oluyemi Thomas. Inside photos by Marc Andren. Layout by Andrzej Wojnowski. Continue reading

Joe McPhee | Dominic Duval | Jay Rosen | Mikolaj Trzaska | Magic | Not Two Records

As the 1990s drew to a close McPhee discovered two like-minded improvisers in bassist Dominic Duval and drummer Jay Rosen. The trio premiered at the Vision Jazz Festival, but the concert went unnoticed by the press; McPhee, Duval and Rosen therefore decided that an apt title for the group would be Trio X. A number of Trio X recordings, have since been released on the CIMP and CADENCE JAZZ RECORDS labels, and the band has received favorable critical notice for these, as well as for its live concert and festival appearances. This is the first Trio X album on NotTwo, and it features a special guest – one of the leading European improv music masters — Mikolaj Trzaska. Continue reading

Ken Vandermark | Marcin Oles | Bartlomiej Brat Oles | Ideas | Not Two Records

Our first contact with Ken Vandermark was just a handshake – at one of the concerts in Poland of the DKV formation. Marek Winiarski, the boss of NotTwo Records, introduced us to each other. Some time passed until we had the chance to play together for the first time. When the Vandermark Five gave a concert, at the Cracow music club Alchemia,we got together after and jammed. The idea of recording an album together was with us before the evening had ended. We had prepared original compositions for the recording session, but we talked before going into the studio, and after Ken Vandermark’s suggest we decided for the recording to be one of the free improvisation. We normally work in different musical fields and despite that, or maybe just because of that, every meeting like this brings about a new experience, even a kind of journey into the unknown… Marcin & Bartlomiej Brat Oles (album’s original linear notes) Continue reading

Gebhard Ullmann | Michael Jefry Stevens | Joe Fonda | George Schuller | Conference Call | What About…? | Not Two Records

One of the finest improvising units working today Conference Call is a complete band, capable of touching all the jazz bases, be they individual or group improvisation, or the performance of composed music. The quintet’s sixth release, What About…? is a two-disc session from the band’s 10th anniversary tour, and was recorded live at Alchemia in Krakow, Poland.– Mark Corroto – All About Jazz Continue reading

Satoko Fujii ma-do Quartet | Desert Ship | Not Two Records

4 ½-stars…. Satoko Fujii. She and her band are the perfect synthesis of modern music, going beyond jazz, integrating anything from classical over folk and traditional music, with jazz, free improvisation and avant-garde, but then pushing it all over the edge. This enables her to explore composition/improvisation with a musical richness which is given to few…. The last piece’s title, “Vapor Trail” is a good descriptive of the music, which comes as a kind of soothing finale, when catharsis has been reached, a moment of acceptance, of resignation, of awe for the beauty that arises after the violence, the fire has died down, after the sun has set. Brilliant!” ― Stef Gijssels, Free Jazz Continue reading

Satoko Fujii Quartet | Zephyros | Not Two Records

The Satoko Fujii Quartet makes full use of their characteristic musical density and speediness. Satoko Fujii’s powerful left hand, Takeharu Hayakawa’s fat, distorted and rolling electric bass sound, busy but extremely solid drumming of Tatsuya Yoshida and Tamura Natsuki’s trumpet conveying linear power and lyricism altogether pump out impending groove which is maximized by the slick and radical mixing technique incorporating compression and reverberation.” ― Koji Murai, Swing Journal Continue reading

Daniele Cavallanti | Tiziano Tononi | Rings Of Fire | Long Song Records

On this brand new CD, produced by Fabrizio Perissinotto, who originally conceived and commissioned the project to the two musicians, Cavallanti and Tononi present two long and ambitious suites (“Faces” by Daniele Cavallanti and “Phases” by Tiziano Tononi) for an extraordinary high level octet that features American violin rising star Jenny Scheinman, Emanuele Parrini on viola, Achille Succi on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Massimo Mariani on guitar, Giovanni Maier on double and electric bass and Pacho on percussion. Featuring Jenny Scheinman & Emmanuele Parrini on strings, Danielle Cavallanti on tenor & bari saxes & Achille Succi on bass clarinet & alto sax, Massimo Mariani on electric guitar, Giovanni Maier on double & electric bass, Pacho on percussion, gongs & congas and Tiziano Tononi on drums & percussion. Both saxist Daniele Cavallanti and drummer, Tiziano Tononi have worked together in different projects for quite a while and can be heard on discs on Splasch and Black Saint. This amazing disc came in in November and I’ve played more than a dozen times since it is just incredible and it is 80 minutes long! Continue reading

Simone Massaron | Breaking News | Long Song Records

Breaking News is a project led by Italian guitarist Simone Massaron playing with a superb band: Daniele Cavallanti and Tiziano Tononi (from the critically acclaimed Italian Instabile Orchestra and Nexus), Steve Piccolo (Lounge Lizards) and the great New York guitarist Elliott Sharp. It’s raw and bluesy stuff, with jazz and improvised moments held together mainly by the saxophone and some experimental and free movements. There’s also a furious version of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Run Through The Jungle” featuring some exciting electric lap steel work by Elliott Sharp. Continue reading