Category: Recordings
The second Spanish Donkey release begins somewhere beyond where the last ended. Joe Morris’ seething and scalding guitar is a hot iron pressed again the flesh, and the microtonal keyboard work of Jamie Saft is grinding and eviscerating.
Direct and relentless, the 33 minute epic ‘Raoul’ begins with Morris’ fuzzed-out melody and drummer Mike Pri…
According to Tzadik’s description, Brett Higgins’ Atlas Revolt “blends latin, r&b, soul, film soundtracks, jazz and more into moody and infectious grooves.” That just about wraps it up neatly – by mixing attractive klezmer modes with a strong rock backbone, Atlas Revoltfits in well with many of its label-mates, nestled somewhere between Ele…
So, thegauntlethas been thrown down on using the term ‘extended techniques’ (sort of), and I accept the challenge to not use it (maybe). Though such a useful phrase, I’ll admit, it’s a bit of a shortcut, it’s a tad lazy, and it can end up maybe even reinforcing the notion that there is a ‘right’ way for an instrument to sound. Henceforth, I shal…
Roulette of the Cradle, the latest release by Ingrid Laubrock’s Anti-House – an ever expanding elite group of New York improvisors -begins with a solo drum. It soon switches to solo slide guitar, which then collides into the piano for a climatic ending.
The following track, ‘Roulette of the Cradle’, continues this game, and one wonders if in …
By Eyal Hareuveni
The Danish, Trondheim, Norway-based alto sax player Mette Rasmussen and American drummer have been performing as a duo continuously for the last two years. The duo’s free-improvised music benefits from these gifted musicians accumulated experiences. Corsano’s resume stretches from free jazz legends as sax players Joe McPhee, …
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Nate Wooley’s Battle Pieces is a thoughtfully conceived album by the NYC based trumpeter and composer. The ‘battle pieces’ have been deliberately designed as ‘backdrops’ for the group, which is Wooley, saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, pianist Sylvie Courvoisierand vibraphonist Matt Moran, to play off. The instrumentation leaves alot of room …
Dear readers (and fans) of the Free Jazz Collective,
You may have noticed that we have a new lay-out for our website, which is fantastic news after so many years with the same visuals and lay-out. The new look is accessible, it looks more professional and of higher quality.
We hope that the new features will be able to facilitate access and co…
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It was a recent Friday, at the tail end of a long week, and I was making my daily slog to the train. I needed to listen to something that could ease me into the day. So scrolling through my iPod, I hit upon Danish guitarist Jakob Bro’s Gefion. It was an album that had been on my short list for a long time, and the time seemed right… …
[b]By Stef[/b]
I will start my review with a sentence written by our colleague Paul Acquaro for the two previous Lama albums reviewed on this blog :
“The pieces fit together so tightly that there’s hardly room for a wasted note, beat or breath as the musicians move gracefully through the set of songs, nimbly riding the contours between structur…
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‘Burn Unit’ is a pulse quickening way to kick off any album. A simple staccato melody is played in unison until it breaks, splintering free, letting musical statements explode with purposeful energy. The piece is a not so gentle introduction to the powerful and musically adventurousWestern Automaticby the Chicago Reed Quartet.
Headed b…
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Bassist Máximo Endrek is an Córdoba, Argentina based musician whose work spans free and traditional jazz as well as orchestral music, and this trio outing with pianist Mariano Vélez and drummer Matías Romero is an excellent introduction to his improvised side. Whether the melody is explicit or implied, the piano prepared or straigh…
By Tom Burris
From the outset, this rhythm section can do Henry Threadgill’s Zooid. Devin Gray (drums) and Chris Tordini (bass) have that thing down pat. Reedman Chris Speed and pianist Kris Davis are mixed in (mostly) separate channels and this works well, as they frequently play counterpoint with each other over the top of the amazing s…
