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

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

Atomic | Bikini Tapes | No Business Records

Like “Boom Boom” this is a reissue of Atomic’s long out of print 3CD box “Bikini Tapes”. It includes the best pieces from their tour in Europe in 2004 and remains one of the groups’ best releases. It is released as a tripple gatefold numbered vinyl with an original graphic work on the cover. A real bomb for the fans of great jazz music. Limited to only 300 copies. Be quick. Continue reading