T – U – V

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

Mikołaj Trzaska | Devin Hoff | Michael Zerang | Sleepless in Chicago | No Business Records

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This is an interesting LP consisting of two improvised performances by Mikołaj Trzaska on alto saxophone, Devin Hoff on bass and Michael Zerang on drums. This sounds like a coherent date but one side of the record was recorded in Chicago in 2011 and then the and the second the following year. The music in both of the performances follows an unpredictable path of free jazz. Trzaska is a very powerful saxophonist and his burly strength powers the opening track “Elastic – Chicago” with raw blowing and excellent support from Hoff and Zerang who are relentlessly driving the music forward. They slowly back off from the full throttle approach and move into a more abstract free section that uses a quieter and more open framework for the music to conclude. “Skylark – Chicago” continues the probing nature of the music allowing each musician to express themselves in an open and thoughtful manner. It is interesting to hear when the musicians coalesce into a ferociously powerful unit that are the masters of dynamics, tact and pacing. — Tim Niland Continue reading →

Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra | Matter Anti-Matter | RogueArt Jazz

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Out of the 63 or 67 satellites around Jupiter, fifty or more of them were discovered since the year 2000 (since the “elections” of George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin, since the busting of the Internet bubble and the market launch of the first USB key: it’s all a question of scale, right?). We are told their orbits are far apart, eccentric, inclined and retrograde. That they do as they please, heads in the clouds, that they dance. It’s your turn to dance. You understand you are a moon in all its phases simultaneously. Let me say that again. Anybody can be the root, says Roscoe Mitchell. Everything is seed, says Novalis. Ascension Dream Phoenix, says Rob Mazurek. A feast. — Alexandre Pierrepont (translation Romain Tesler) Continue reading →

The Resonance Ensemble | Head Above Water, Feet Out of The Fire | Not Two Records

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Ken Vandermark – baritone saxophone & Bb clarinet | Mark Tokar – acoustic bass | Waclaw Zimpel – Bb & alto clarinet | Mikolaj Trzaska – alto saxophone & bass clarinet | Dave Rempis – alto & tenor saxophone | Michael Zerang – drums | Tim Daisy – drums | Steve Swell – trombone | Per-Åke Holmlander – tuba | Magnus Broo – trumpet | Devin Hoff – bass VI (on CD1 only)
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Jeff Platz | Daniel Carter | Francois Grillot | Federico Ughi | Past & Present Futures | Glitch Records

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PAST & PRESENT FUTURESThe future of improvised music, and or, for lack of a better term “modern jazz”, continues to thrive and evolve. To spite the drawbacks, lack of venues, media support etc, the music just keeps moving forward with a new generation of players carrying on the tradition of freely improvised music. The past meets the present and the future can only hold an even higher quality of musical interpretation and concepts. Past & Present Futures was recorded on a fall afternoon just outside of New York City. This was my first time meeting and playing with bassist Francois Grillot and drummer Federico Ughi. Multi reeds player, trumpeter Daniel Carter and I have recorded and played together several time over the years. The music and ideas flowed naturally. After a long and productive evening of playing the group walked away with several hours of recorded music. We were ail happy with the outcome and felt that some cohesive playing and improvising had been accomplished. After much consideration we selected here what I feel are the highlights of the session. I hope you enjoy the recording as much as well all enjoyed the project. Many thanks again for listening! —Jeff Platz Continue reading →

Rocco Parisi’s Bass Clarinet Quartet | A Tempo, A Modo – Path Tracking Vito Marsico | Amirani Records

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This project has been created by the Associazione Libarna Arteventi in collaboration with Amirani Records and Teriyaki Records. Thanks to Serravalle Scrivia municipality, it has also been included in the 2013 edition of Le Storie del Novecento national literary awards. The project is based on the idea that art and culture are not only a source of beauty and aesthetic pleasure, but they are also a way of life. Culture is the way we behave and live, it is harmony in its different forms, education, balance, and personal growth. Music and art are universal languages as well as an integral part of everyone’s life. They are limitless or, to be precise, their only limit is your creativity. They are also a means of promotion for ethics and spirituality. Today more than ever, culture needs to be supported by valorising local cultural individualism. That’s why we want to thank local businesses for sponsoring our project by personally investing in it, despite the difficult economic situation. “Fare cultura” (to “do culture”) also involves increasing public awareness of the arts’ real value and of the fact that they should not be kept hidden behind the walls of a theatre or of a museum. — Iudica Dameri Continue reading →

Laboule | Refugio | Long Song Records

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to Sonia… This album was recorded under the mountain dew among the Alps, on the side of Mount Grona, with an acoustic guitar and a few other instruments. Refugio is a quest in the intersection of two mountain chains, the disclosure of an ancient, dusty and seaside soundscape where it’s possible to discover the necessary asylum to grow and find a precious refuge for melancholy. Continue reading →

John Tchicai | Charlie Kohlhase | Garrison Fewell | Cecil McBee | Billy Hart | Tribal Ghost | No Business Records

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The album features very light percussion by Billy Hart who plays in a very subtle and shape shifting manner. Fewell has an appealing tone, moving through and weaving in and out if the music. Tchicai and Kohlhase play at a slow burn throughout and the mystical – spiritual – incantatory vibe suits the music well. This is a fine collective album, quiet and thoughtful, played at a summering level which allows space for all voices to be heard, it’s a cooperative group where no one dominates. — Tim Niland Continue reading →

Natsuki Tamura | Dragon Nat | Libra Records

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Tamura is a real world citizen of music, as familiar in traditional jazz, European folk as Japanse traditional music, as well as avant-garde. He has the amazing capability of integrating all these influences without diminishing any of the ingredients, but rather enhancing them, and all this while creating his own voice and sound full of artistic authenticity.The closing tune on the album, “Matsuri”, says it all, taking the listener from the usual tender warmth over intense staccato moments to alarming pig squeals and back to normal. Beautiful! — Stef
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Kaze | Tornado | Libra Records

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This music is evidence of the existence of entire jazz worlds that most listeners and even collectors might easily be unaware of. Satoko Fujii is obviously a master and a visit to her website reveals a rich catalog of recordings. That such music can be recorded is evidence that such worlds can be easily visited by wanders who fly about in their internet tardis. Tornado was released by Circum-Libra Records. You can also get solo recordings by Fujii (Gen Himmel) and Tamura (Dragon Mat) on Libra Records. I will review these in short order. I urge you to seek out and purchase these recordings. This is music worth investing money, time, and heart in. —Ken Blanchard Continue reading →