Jazz

record_store_listening_booths

Vandermak 5 Special Edition | The Horse Jumps & The Ship Is Gone | Not Two Records

Posted by

0

This 2-CD’s set documents an expanded Vandermark 5 at Chicago’s Green Mill club in June of 2009. The quintet is assisted by Scandinavian stalwarts Magnus Broo (trumpet) and Håvard Wiik (piano), both members of Atomic who previously worked with several members of the Chicago outfit. The album once again proves that the Vandermark catalogue for this band is an awe-inspiring work-in-progress. Using several songs from ‘Annular Gift’ (Not Two, 2009) as a foundation, leader Ken Vandermark augmented his compositions, rewriting passages and rethinking their structures to fit this seven-piece Special Edition. The result is a striking balance of tight interplay, free excursions and anything in between. The album includes recent compositions, returns to ‘A Discontinuous Line’ and ‘Beat Reader’ (with a marvellous version of “Friction”), contains one new composition (“Nameless”) and two pieces composed by the guests: Broo’s “New Weather” and Wiik’s “Green Mill Tilter”. ‘The Horse Jumps And The Ship Is Gone’ is another strong V5-release, that not only confirms Vandermark’s reputation as one of the hardest working men in the business, but also the band’s telepathic interplay and adventurous spirit. — Instantjazz Blog Continue reading →

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

Posted by

0

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 →

Rob Brown | Daniel Levin | Natural Disorder | Not Two Records

Posted by

0

Natural Disorder What a great name for an album of improvised music, especially one like this where the elements of apparent chance and seeming inevitability are in such perfect balance. It might also reflect my own dealings with Rob Brown and Daniel Levin: if I were a believer in any form of fate, then I could well feel that this is an association written in the stars. I first encountered them at a gig in New York, where I’d expected to hear Rob’s quartet with Steve Swell, Joe Morris and Luther Gray, but an unseasonal snowfall trapped Joe and Luther out of town, and Daniel – whose work I hadn’t previously heard – came in as a last minute replacement. Clearly this changed the dynamics of the group, yet the way in which Daniel immediately established a relationship of equality with the two horns made a huge impression on me. But, after an exchange of email addresses all round, I headed back to my home in the North of England, and we had no further contact for almost two years. — Paul Bream Newcastle-upon-Tyne 15th July 2010 Continue reading →

Frank Gratkowski | Sebastian Gramss | Tatsuya Nakatani | oirTrio | Kanata | Not Two Records

Posted by

0

The OIRTRIO started furiously. Tatsuya Nakatami diligently moved along with the band steeping into scratching, beating and violonizing his instruments…where Gratkowksi is brash and experimental at every turn, the bassist, Gramss, is almost chameleon-like in his ability to mimic and build upon the lines Gratkowski is playing. He’s the ultimate support player here, as integral to the sound as any of the others, but sometimes almost disappearing until you listen carefully and realize that the horn line is being doubled, or tripled, by the bowing of the bass… Compelling, experimental, but also quite beautiful and even… poetic — MIB Bremen Continue reading →

Joe McPhee | Ingebrigt Haker Flaten | Blue Chicago Blues | Not Two Records

Posted by

1

In Blue Chicago Blues, recorded in 2007 the duo of tenor player Joe McPhee and bassist Ingebrigt Håker-Flaten balances out very well, in ethnicity, instrumentation, musical personality, and tonal character. McPhee is relaxed with the openness of his horn and Håker-Flaten, attentively diligent at emphasizing the tautness of his bass strings. “Requiem for An Empty Heart” sounds the blues-iest of all of the six tracks. But McPhee’s poetry on the back cover of the record jacket settles any question of how blues are anyway: “For this here ain’t nothin’ but the blues, nasty, low down, trifflin’ and sweet…” Dedicated to the late Chicago tenorman, Fred Anderson, the recording refers to blues-makers Oliver Nelson and Ornette Coleman and simple imaginations of the downtrodden or the mercurial female kind. — Lyn Horton, Jazz Times Continue reading →

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

Posted by

0

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

Posted by

0

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 →