T – U – V

All artists filed by last name under T, U and V :

Oluyemi Thomas | Kenn Thomas | Eugene Wilson IV | Howard Byrdsong | Nigeria | Not Two Records

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Encouraged by the recent strong releases on the Polish Not Two label, I took a deeper look in their catalogue and came across this album, led by Oluyemi Thomas on bass clarinet and musette, with Kenn Thomas on piano and synthesizer, Eugene Wilson IV on fretless electric bass and Howard Byrdsong on drums. And this record is unusual, if only because it’s rare to find free jazz albums with both synthesizer and fretless bass. OK, David S. Ware has done experiments with synth and so did Joe McPhee, but the use here is more sparse, more functional, less intrusive. The album is a kind of suite, without pauses between the tracks, reinforcing the very strong musical unity, and an incredible raw poetic power.–Stef Continue reading →

Brassum | Dan Clucas | Michael Vlatkovich | Mark Weaver | Harris Eisenstadt | Live | pfmentum

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Here we have jazzy improvisation at top level but with strong emphasis on some melodic lines. And that is what distinguishes Brassum from many others improvisers or spontaneous musicians. Here we have exploration of lines done with trombones and tubas and cornets with a certain jazz feeling but keeping main ideas through all the compositions. This is exploration of new sounds with a lot of coherence and developing new ideas but always keeping the main structures in mind that is what gives a pure jazz feeling. — musicextreme Oct 2006 Continue reading →

Biggi Vinkeloe | Mark Weaver | Damon Smith | Desert Sweets | Plutonium Records

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This is a band worthy of attention. They tap into the rich improvising tradition of exploration and offer superior sonic results. There are 22 tracks on this CD, all with examples of outstanding technical virtuosity and dazzling musical moments. Anyone familiar with numerology knows that 22 is a special number. It is one of the master numbers (along with 11) that represent the master cosmic vibrations in the universe, and signify a highly enlightened experience beyond the range of human understanding. The listening experience offered here is certainly one that stretches beyond our previous improvising understandings as listeners. This is a sonic journey that travels through some fascinating and beautiful new improvised terrain and offers a totally unique and rewarding listening experience. Enjoy the ride. —Adam Lane, new york/oakland, feburary 2002 Continue reading →

Mark Weaver’s Brassum | Warning Lights | Plutonium Records

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Given its name which reflects its brass-heavy instrumentation, you’d expect Mark Weaver’s Brassum to be a celebration of the brass band tradition with evocations of marching bands… But with leader and tubaist Mark Weaver taking on the role of the string bass, this band really is a free Bop ensemble with catchy, intriguing tunes setting up edgy blowing. Little Weaver plays wouldn’t fall easily under the fingers of an adept bassist. That’s not to say that his big brass bass doesn’t add a dominant color to the date. The tuba’s expansive sound envelops the ensemble with a golden fog. Even when vamping, Weaver’s lines (and this applies as well to the undisputed master of this school of tuba, Bob Stewart) resonate with the other horns in the way a string bass does not. Weaver and Eisenstadt prove to be a playful rhythm section. Clucas works well within the context of Weaver’s compositions. Vlatkovich further lifts the session with his robust, ripping trombone lines. …this music, through crafty writing and daring playing, achieves a sound larger than you’d assume from the seemingly meager complement of instruments. —David Dupont (Cadence magazine vol.30, No.6, June 2004, p.46-47) Continue reading →

Todd Moore (1937 – 2010) | A Memorial Reading | Vox Audio

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This reading took place in tribute to Todd Moore at The Hardwood Art Center in Albuquerque, NM on May 22, 2010. Todd’s own reading from “The Name Is Dillinger” was produced by Todd Moore, J. A. Deane and Mark Weber for Zerxpress (2001) and is used with permission. Edited by Bruce Holsapple. Cover photo by Pete Jonsson. Copyright 2010 the Estate of Todd Moore, Zerxpress and Vox Audio PO Box S94 Magdalena NM 87825 Continue reading →

Sureau | Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg | Jean Demey | Kris Vanderstraeten | Gianni Mimmo | Enzo Rocco | The Leuven Concert

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The SUREAU trio trio is playing free spontaneous improvisations based on mutual listening, musical invention and sound exploration. Double bass , voice and percussion. This collective music is shaped with our own very individual sounds research since years of practice and reflection with the help of our imagination. Extended techniques and tangent interactive thinking. These five new tracks of the whole concert in Leuven’s Oratorium 22 oct ’09 is a good starting point for the listener and one crucial step in our evolution. Continue reading →

Anne Valley-Fox Reads at Acequia Booksellers in Albuquerque, NM | Vox Audio

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Anne reads from How Shadows are Bundled (UNM Press 2009). Her books include Sending the Body Out (Zephyr 1986), Fish Drum 15 (1999), and Point of No Return (La Alameda 2004). The first reading occurred November 29,2009 at Acequia Booksellers, 4019 Fourth St. NW, Albuquerque, NM. Additional material was recorded with Jeff Bryan on saxophone in Placitas, NM January 10, 2009. Continue reading →