Connie Crothers | Richard Tabnik | Roy Campbell | Roger Mancuso | Ken Filiano | Band Of Fire | NA 1050

Fire creates its own sonic universe. Its timbre comes from the burning, while the elemental transmutation breeds new forms of light and ash. It roars and whispers, constantly susurrating just below the energy that bespeaks its crackling multiplicity, its multileveled and precisely detailed identity. The title”Band of Fire” captures the essence of this music with uncanny perfection. Connie Crothers, Richard Tabnik, Roy Campbell, Ken Filianoand Roger Mancuso share a common tradition, but their musical vision refuses to be bound by it. The freedom they created at The Stone, on November21″, 2010, grounded in hard-won precision, tempered through improvisation, is released in bursts of flaming energy. Old forms burn as the quintet’s creative energy destroys and recreates them with new life. Continue reading

Ken Silverman

I’m Ken Silverman a NYC-based Guitarist/Composer, who also plays Oud, Charango, Bass Guitar and hand percussion. My interest as an Improvisor is in taking everything I’ve been exposed to and using it to try to create something distinctive and creative. For me that means using what I’ve learned from blues, jazz, rock, ethnic and to some extent classical and concert music in an improvised or “free” setting, or within the realm of “Composition.” My goal is to create my own brew of sound and to keep forever expanding, both through playing with others and through working on my sound and playing as an individual. I have been active concertizing in NYC with a variety of musicians, including Daniel Carter and Roy Campbell. June, 2010 saw the release of the Quartet CD “Macroscopia” on the Metier label. Continue reading

Steve Swell | Rivers Of Sound Ensemble…….News From the Mystic Auricle | Not Two Records

Steve Swell’s third release on the Polish NotTwo label moves the trombonist into new, though not entirely unfamiliar territory. On this occasion, his regular Slammin’ the Infinite band has expanded with the addition of trumpeter Roy Campbell to become the Rivers of Sound Ensemble. Hilliard Greene, who plays in Swell’s quartet with Gebhard Ullmann, takes over the bass chair from Matt Heyner, with drummer Klaus Kugel and reed maestro Sabir Mateen as holdovers. More significant though is Swell’s dispensation with composition for the three 20+ minute pieces presented here, each sporting group credits suggesting a collective genesis. That’s not to imply that this is merely a set of free jazz blowouts, though there are some cathartic moments to be sure. What’s striking is the restraint on show and the spontaneously conceived arrangements, which conjure a different setting for each horn soloist: evidence of the protagonist’s years of hard won experience on the New York free jazz scene. — John Sharpe, All About Jazz Continue reading

The Nu Band | Live in Paris | No Buiness Records

The release of this, our fifth album, coincides with the tenth anniversary of our first concert together, in Philadephia in 2000. Thanks to all the friends, fans, promoters, and producers who have made it possible for us to continue playing, recording, and touring together all these years. It’s a privilege and pleasure for us and we look forward to sharing the next decade with all of you. — The Nu Band Continue reading