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Ava Mendoza

Ava Mendoza is a Brooklyn-based guitarist, singer, songwriter and composer. Her guitar work has received acclaim for its technique and viscerality. She is best known as leader of experimental rock band Unnatural Ways, and as a solo performer on guitar/voice. Performing/recording credits include work with Carla Bozulich, Fred Frith, Malcolm Mooney, Mike Watt, Nels Cline, John Zorn, and Negativland.

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Radio & Podcasts

It's (Never) the Final Countdown, Part Trois

Read "It's (Never) the Final Countdown, Part Trois" reviewed by Patrick Burnette


After a couple episodes away, we return to the New York Times list of best jazz albums of 2023 and finish it off. It's happier days for the most part. The boys acknowledge that these selections are all, more or less, actually jazz, and some are even pretty enjoyable.Playlist Discussion of Matana Roberts' album Coin Coin Chapter Five: In the Garden (Constellation Records) 3:03 Discussion of Jonathan Suazo's album Ricano (Ropeadope) 25:54 Discussion of Micah Thomas' album Reveal ...

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Album Review

Mendoza - Hoff - Revels: Echolocation

Read "Echolocation" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary jazz, Echolocation emerges as a bold exploration of sonic frontiers. Crafted through the collaborative virtuosity of Ava Mendoza on guitar and Devin Hoff on bass, this project embarks on a musical journey which delves deep into the avant-garde jazz realm, blending experimental rock, electric jazz, and the limitless creativity of neo-psychedelia. The album commences with “Dyscalculia," a track which weaves the raw energy of metal with the intricate layers of free jazz, ...

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Album Review

Acceleration Due To Gravity: Jonesville

Read "Jonesville" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


Bassist, composer and arranger Moppa Elliott's uniquely-titled nonet Acceleration Due To Gravity presents Jonesville a gravity- defying jazz odyssey. It pays a captivating homage to influential bassist Sam Jones by weaving a sonic tapestry which transcends the boundaries of conventional jazz. In this brief seven-track, twenty-one-minute outing, four compositions are by Elliott, with the remainder being Sam Jones' originals. The members of the octet who participated in this unusual musical excursion are trumpeter Bobby Spellman, trombonist Dave Taylor, alto saxophonist ...

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Album Review

Moppa Elliott's Acceleration Due To Gravity: Jonesville

Read "Jonesville" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


Whatever 'script renegade bassist/composer Moppa Elliot takes on a daily basis, he should be made to share with the rest of the world. Whatever that tonic, whatever that pill, whatever that gumbo scented elixir is, let us have it now. Elliot may not want to open up his private stash to the public, but he sure knows how to let it fly in the music he and his nonet--Acceleration Due to Gravity--put forth on the rightly raucous and ...

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Radio & Podcasts

Ava Mendoza, Daniel Karlsson, Makiko Hirabayashi, Hannah Marks & More

Read "Ava Mendoza, Daniel Karlsson, Makiko Hirabayashi, Hannah Marks & More" reviewed by Ludovico Granvassu


From wall of sound albums to projects of sparse beauty, this week we cover the whole sonic gamut, with a special attention to the trio format, because... three is the perfect jazz number!Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" Mondo Jazz Theme 0:00 Daniel Karlsson Trio “Bus Stop Story" Sorry Boss (Howgling Jazz) 0:16 Host talks 5:04 John Scofield “Mask" Uncle John's Band (ECM) 6:22 Host talks 12:51 Makiko Hirabayashi ...

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Album Review

Mendoza / Hoff / Revels: Echolocation

Read "Echolocation" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Among today's leading guitarists fusing the power of rock and avant-garde jazz--a list that has to include Nels Cline, Marc Ribot, Mary Halvorson and Brandon Seabrook--Ava Mendoza may be the one with the strongest link to the punk tradition. All the evidence one needs is on Echolocation, a project by Revels, her close collaboration with bassist Devin Hoff, on which the pair are joined by saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and drummer Ches Smith. With eight deviously crafted songs expertly navigating ...

Album Review

Ava Mendoza, Vijay Anderson, Stephen Gauci: Studio Sessions Vol. 4

Read "Studio Sessions Vol. 4" reviewed by Alberto Bazzurro


Free jazz della più chiara (e abbastanza indiscriminata, acritica) acqua è quello che ci accoglie da subito in questo album, inciso nel febbraio 2019 e pubblicato alla fine di quello stesso anno. Vi figura uno degli elementi più interessanti delle nuove leve del jazz (in realtà classe 1983, ma si sa che oggi, musicalmente parlando, si diventa maggiorenni attorno ai quaranta) come la chitarrista Ava Mendoza, ma il deus ex machina dell'operazione, nonché editore dell'album (ricorda un po' quei ragazzini ...

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Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Jonesville

Hot Cups
2024

buy

Echolocation

AUM Fidelity
2023

buy

Slide Gate

SNMR1011
2023

buy

Mayan Space Station

AUM Fidelity
2021

buy

Seven Storey Mountain...

Pyroclastic Records
2020

buy

Choice

From: Jonesville
By Ava Mendoza

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