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Jazz Articles about Asaf Sirkis
Markus Reuter: The Truce
by Chris M. Slawecki
Markus Reuter's first steps into music were as a pianist. But then Reuter learned to play the Chapman Stick, studied in Robert Fripp's Guitar Craft, and mastered the digital U8 Touch Guitar. The freedom of these electronic sound palettes, combined with his genuine guitar virtuosity and piano background, all give Reuter's guitar playing structure and vision that are truly amazing. Reuter is also a linchpin of the experimental trio Stick Men (along with Chapman Stick master Tony Levin) and served ...
Continue ReadingYuri Goloubev: Two Chevrons Apart
by Ian Patterson
In recent years double bassist Yuri Goloubev has lent his rich sound to multiple projects, including the co-led Duonomics (Caligola, 2018) with Michele Di Toro. It was 2011's Titanic for a Bike (Caligola), however, that marked Goloubev's last recording as outright leader. This welcome return—his headlining debut on Basho Records—sees him align with frequent musical partners Asaf Sirkis and Tim Garland, and new collaborator John Turville, on a finely crafted set of originals written and arranged by the Russian.
Continue ReadingSirkis/Bialas IQ: Our New Earth
by Ian Patterson
A lament for our damaged earth, a prayer for a better future, Sirkis/Bialas IQ's second recording, after its well-received debut Come To Me (Stonebird Productions, 2015), is an ambitious, far-reaching work. Contemporary jazz with a world view, Our New Earth draws from Middle Eastern, Southern Indian carnatic, Eastern European folk and contemporary classical traditions. That it all flows together so seamlessly says much for the writing and arrangements of Asaf Sirkis and Sylwia Bialas. It also underlines the benefits of ...
Continue ReadingMarkus Reuter: Truce
by Mark Sullivan
German touch-guitarist Markus Reuter has been heard in a variety of contexts: with Stick Men, providing bass, lead and soundscaping as on Panamerica (MoonJune Records, 2019); and with guitarist Mark Wingfield on The Stone House (MoonJune Records, 2017) and Lighthouse (MoonJune Records, 2017). His eight-string touch guitar covers both bass and guitar ranges, often making it difficult to differentiate his parts from the other group members. No such confusion here: for its historic 100th release, MuneJune Records features ...
Continue ReadingSirkis/Bialas IQ: Our New Earth
by Mark Sullivan
Established in 2014, when this band released its first album Come To Me (Stonebird Productions, 2015; limited distribution by MoonJune Records) it called itself The Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet. It has shortened the name to Sirkis/Bialas IQ, but it's still international: Asaf Sirkis (drums) is an Israeli living in England; Sylwia Bialas (vocals) is a Pole living in Germany; Frank Harrison (keyboards) is English; and Scot Kevin Glasgow (six string electric bass) replaces American Patrick Bettison (electric bass/chromatic harmonica).
Continue ReadingSirkis/Bialas International Quartet at Duncairn Arts Centre
by Ian Patterson
Sirkis/Bialas International Quartet Duncairn Arts Centre Belfast, N. Ireland March 22, 2018 Coming so soon after Belfast's annual jazz festival, Brilliant Corners, the appearance of Sirkis/Bialas IQ at Duncairn Arts Centre was a real treat for jazz fans. Better still, the concert was free, sponsored as it was by the Institute for Conflict Research. Since 1996 the non-profit ICR, which is based in Belfast, has worked with community groups in a host of ...
Continue ReadingDwiki Dharmawan: Pasar Klewer
by Dave Wayne
Another day, another two- disc set. Or so it seems. Fortunately, one does not have to wade through Dwiki Dharmawan's Pasar Klewer. Despite some odd choices in track sequence one may even wonder ..."is that all?" after the second disc has finished its spin. Dharmawan is an Indonesian jazz pianist who, like so many of his countrymen, has found a rich vein of inspiration in the folk and ethnic musics of his native land. It's worth noting that Dharmawan is ...
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