Free Jazz Blog Reviews

April 15, 2010 — Mike

From Free Jazz:

FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 2010
Undivided – The Passion (Multikulti, 2010) ****½

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2010
Last Seen Headed – Live At Sons D’Hiver (Ayler – 2010) ****

TUESDAY, APRIL 13, 2010
Rova & Nels Cline Singers – Celestial Septet (New World Records, 2010) ****
The Nels Cline Singers – Initiate (Cryptogrammophone, 2010) ****

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 2010
Dave Liebman, Evan Parker, Tony Bianco – Relevance (Toucan, 2010) ****½

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Dusted Reviews

April 15, 2010 — Mike
Cover of "Secret Agent"
Cover of Secret Agent

From Dusted:

Artist: Kayo Dot
Album: Coyote
Label: Hydra Head
Review date: Apr. 15, 2010

Artist: Tony Allen
Album: Secret Agent
Label: Nonesuch
Review date: Apr. 14, 2010

Artist: The Nels Cline Singers
Album: Initiate
Label: Cryptogramophone
Review date: Apr. 13, 2010

Read This Review

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Robert Dick Interview

April 15, 2010 — Mike

Roulette NYC:

“A flutist whose technical resources and imagination seem limitless.” Allan Kozinn, New York Times Robert Dick’s contributions to the development of the flute and its music are profound. With equally deep roots in classical music old and new, free improvisation and new jazz, he is known as the flute’s visionary. On April 18, at Roulette, Robert Dick teams up with visual improviser Joshue Ott and electronic musician Billy Gomberg for Dog or God – an immersive, improvised experience, unabashedly journeying from maelstrom to serenity via spontaneous emotional ports of call.

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AMN Podcast: Inhabitants – A Vacant Lot

April 15, 2010 — Mike

A Vacant LotInhabitants
“Threes” (mp3)
from “A Vacant Lot”
(Drip Audio)

Buy at iTunes Music Store
More On This Album

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Tonight at the Encore Music Forum

April 15, 2010 — Mike

From New York’s Encore Music Forum:

More Than Music is not only a straightforward fusion of Hip-Hop and Classical music, but also an exploration of each of the genres’ individual attributes and their application to each other in search of new musical possibilities: intricate compositional techniques accompanied by turntablism, rap lyrics over experimental synthesized textures, and operatic voices led by heavy kick drums and snares. Moreover, More Than Music is a program composed for challenging times with a vision of a more positive future.

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ESP-Disk' and Engine Studios Releases

April 15, 2010 — Mike

From ESP-Disk’:

Paul Dunmall & Chris Corsano – Identical Sunsets

Best known for his collaborations with people like Paul Flaherty, Michael Flower and Thurston Moore as well as a year-and-a-half stint as the drummer for Björk‘s Volta tour, Chris Corsano is widely considered to be one of the best and most adaptive drummers of his generation. Equally adaptive is UK saxophone giant, Paul Dunmall, who has worked disparately with jazz greats like Alice Coltrane and Evan Parker as well as funk and folk acts like Johnny Guitar Watson and Dando Shaft.

Sonny Simmons – Staying on the Watch

The noted west coast composer made his ESP debut accompanied by his then wife, Barbara Donald, on trumpet, Teddy Smith on bass, John Hicks on piano and Marvin Pattillo on percussion. Recorded August 1966, Staying on the Watch is an important infusion of straight-ahead and avant jazz. Barbara Donald is a superb trumpeter who has made a strident contribution to the legacy of women performers and has been widely written about. Also, pianist John Hicks, who makes his New York debut on the record, went on to become one of the most prolific pianists in jazz.

William Hooker Trio – Yearn for Certainty

It is too simplistic to categorize William Hooker as a fiery drummer who constantly explores structure and genre. As evidenced by the quote above from the spoken piece at the end of this recording, William’s playing is connected to an emotional world and the world at large. Bookended by two spoken word pieces, ‘Ingratiated Beam – Leroy’ and ‘Yearn for Certainty’, the title refers to the desire to know specifically and certainly how the world is to evolve forward. In between there is the down home banjo/sax of ‘Century’s Soles’, the rainy bluster of ‘Commonplace Travels’, and the drum solo-clarinet solo-trio explosion of ‘Magistrait.’ Joined by multi-instrumentalists David Soldier (classical guitar, banjo, mandolin, and violin) and Sabir Mateen (saxophone, flute, and clarinet) the William Hooker Trio is both tender and thunderous on Yearn for Certainty.

Yuganaut – Sharks

Calling the three members of Yuganaut “multi-instrumentalists” is a little too easy. What is needed is some kind of word that would connote being multiple bands. Between them they could be a small brass group, an electric chamber ensemble or a straight-ahead jazz trio. But such formal confines may not leave room for the moments of playfulness or the passages of spacey psychedelia that sneak in between their evocative and highly original sounds. Between them, band members Stephen Rush, Tom Abbs and Geoff Mann play Fender Rhodes and Moog synthesizer; trumpet, trombone and tuba; bass, cello and violin; and drums, toys and didgeridoo. Does that sound streamlined? Their previous release also included mandolin, euphonium and vibes.

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Jazz Journalists Association Announces Nominations

April 15, 2010 — Mike

Jazz Times announces the Jazz Journalists Association awards nominations, which are excerpted below.

1. Lifetime Achievement in Jazz
Muhal Richard Abrams
Jimmy Heath
James Moody
Paul Motian
Wayne Shorter
Randy Weston

2. Musician of the Year
Dave Douglas
Vijay Iyer
Joe Lovano
Sonny Rollins
Henry Threadgill

3. Composer of the Year
Darcy James Argue
John Hollenbeck
Vijay Iyer
Steve Lehman
Maria Schneider
Henry Threadgill

4. Up & Coming Artist of the Year
Darcy James Argue
Gerald Clayton
Darius Jones
Linda Oh
Esperanza Spalding

6. Record of the Year (CDs issued between March 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010)
Infernal Machines, Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, New Amsterdam Records
Historicity, Vijay Iyer Trio, ACT Music
Travail, Transformation and Flow, Steve Lehman Octet, Pi Recordings
Folk Art, Joe Lovano, Blue Note Records
This Brings Us To, Vol. 1, Henry Threadgill Zooid, Pi Recordings
Esta Plena, Miguel Zenón, Marsalis Music

8. DVD of the Year
21st Century Chase, Fred Anderson, Delmark Records
Extraordinary Life and Music of a Jazz Legend, Svend Asmussen Shanachie
Live in Berlin & Stockholm 1968, Count Basie & His Orchestra, Impro Jazz
Thelonious Monk: American Composer, Medici Arts
Anita O’ Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer, AOD Productions/Elan Entertainment
Celebrating Bird: The Triumph of Charlie Parker, Medici Arts

9. Record Label of the Year
Blue Note Records
Clean Feed Records
ECM
Pi Recordings
Sunnyside Records

13. Large Ensemble of the Year
Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Mingus Big Band
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

14. Arranger of the Year
Darcy James Argue
Carla Bley
John Hollenbeck
Bill Holman
Maria Schneider

15. Small Ensemble of the Year (<10 pieces)
Henry Threadgill Zooid
Joe Lovano Us Five
Mostly Other People Do the Killing
Vijay Iyer Trio
Wayne Shorter Quartet

16. Trumpeter of the Year
Terence Blanchard
Dave Douglas
Tom Harrell
Wynton Marsalis
Wadada Leo Smith

18. Tenor Saxophonist of the Year
Fred Anderson
Joe Lovano
Tony Malaby
Branford Marsalis
Chris Potter
Sonny Rollins

19. Alto Saxophonist of the Year
Ornette Coleman
Lee Konitz
Steve Lehman
Rudresh Mahanthappa
Miguel Zenón

20. Flutist of the Year
Jamie Baum
Holly Hofmann
Nicole Mitchell
Lew Tabackin
Frank Wess

21. Baritone Saxophonist of the Year
Hamiet Bluiett
James Carter
Ronnie Cuber
Claire Daly
Gary Smulyan

22. Soprano Saxophonist of the Year
Jane Bunnett
Dave Liebman
Branford Marsalis
Evan Parker
Wayne Shorter
Steve Wilson

25. Pianist of the Year
Kenny Barron
Vijay Iyer
Keith Jarrett
Jason Moran
Matthew Shipp

27. Violinist of the Year
Regina Carter
Mark Feldman
Jenny Scheinman
Billy Bang
Mark O’Connor

28. Bassist of the Year (includes Acoustic & Electric)
Ron Carter
Charlie Haden
Dave Holland
Christian McBride
John Patitucci

29. Mallet Instrumentalist of the Year
Jason Adasiewicz
Gary Burton
Stefon Harris
Joe Locke
Steve Nelson

30. Percussionist of the Year
Cyro Baptista
Hamid Drake
Zakir Hussain
Kahil El’Zabar
Bobby Sanabria
Daniel Sadownick

32. Periodical of the Year
AllAboutJazz-New York
Cadence
Down Beat
JazzTimes
Signal To Noise

33. Website of the Year
AllAboutJazz.com
Jazz.com
JazzCorner.com
JazzTimes.com
PointOfDeparture.org

34. Blog of the Year
The Gig, Nate Chinen — http://thegig.typepad.com
A Blog Supreme, Patrick Jarenwattananon — http://www.npr.org/blogs/ablogsupreme
Do The Math blog and webzine, Ethan Iverson, http://thebadplus.typepad.com/dothemath
JazzWax, Marc Myers, http://www.jazzwax.com
Rifftides, Doug Ramsey, http://www.artsjournal.com/rifftides

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Brotzmann / Drake on Tour

April 15, 2010 — Mike

From AllAboutJazz.com:

Friday, April 16
Philadelphia Art Alliance
251 S. 18th Street
Philadelphia, PA
Presented by Ars Nova Workshop
arsnovaworkshop.org
$12 cover
8pm

Saturday, April 17
Hall’s Walls Contemporary Arts Center
341 DELAWARE AVE.
BUFFALO, NY 14202
716-854-1694
hallswalls.org
$15 general, $10 members/students/seniors
8pm

Sunday, April 18
SEA Theater 2nd Floor
Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center
107 Suffolk Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 260-4080
csvcenter.com
visionfestival.org
$15 set / $20 for 2 sets – students & seniors $10 & $15 for both sets
7 & 9pm

Monday, April 19
Twins Jazz
1344 U St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Tel: (202) 234-0072
twinsjazz.com
$10 cover
8 & 10pm
Tuesday, April 20
Gumbo Ya Ya
367 E. Main St
Lexington, KY
859.523.9292
gumboyayaky.com
Presented by Outside The Spotlight
$5 cover
7pm doors, 8pm first set

Wednesday, April 21
Sugar Maple
441 E. Lincoln
Milwaukee, WI
414-481-2393
mysugarmaple.com
$9 cover
9pm

Thursday, April 22
The Project Lodge
817 E. Johnson
Madison, WI
theprojectlodge.com
Presented by Surrounded by Reality Music
(surroundedbyrealitymusic.wordpress.com)
$10 cover
8:30pm

Friday, April 23
Immediate Sound Series Fourth Anniversary Celebration – Night One:
Set I – Mike Reed’s People, Places & Things 8tet
Set II – Brotzmann/Drake Duo
Plus DJ Sets by John Corbett
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia
Chicago, IL 60622
773.227.4433
hideoutchicago.com
umbrellamusic.org
$12 cover
Doors & DJ at 9pm, First Set at 10pm.

Saturday, April 24
Immediate Sound Series Fourth Anniversary Celebration – Night Two:
Set I – Josh Berman and His Gang
Set II – Peter Brotzmann/Mars Williams/Kent Kessler/Hamid Drake
Plus DJ Sets by Mitch Cocanig
The Hideout
1354 W. Wabansia
Chicago, IL 60622
773.227.4433
hideoutchicago.com
umbrellamusic.org
$12 cover
8:30pm Doors & DJ, First Set at 9pm.

Sunday, April 25
The Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center
3301 Lemp Ave
St. Louis, MO
314.771.1096
lemp-arts.org
$5 cover
8pm

Monday, April 26
The Big Top Arts Center
1638 Clio Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 569-2700
3rcp.com/
Presented by the coalition of Anxious Sound, Valid Records, SpyBoy Productions & The Open Ears Music Series
8pm

Tuesday, April 27
Set I – Peter Brotzmann- solo reeds
Set II – Rob Wagner and Hamid Drake
Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.
New Orleans, LA 70113
504.352.1150
8pm

Wednesday, April 28
The Victory Grill
1104 E. 11th St.
Austin, TX
historicvictorygrill.org
Presented by Epistrophy Arts
epistrophyarts.org
$16 advance, $20 at the door
8pm

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