Jazz Articles about Brad Dutz

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Brad Dutz: When Manatees Attack

by Erik R. Quick
October 4, 2007

Percussionist Brad Dutz has an astounding range of performance and recording credits, from Leo Kottke and Kiss, to Frank Sinatra and Kenny Loggins. On When Manatees Attack, the Los Angles based musical chameleon both inspires and confuses. The result is a strange mix of improvisatory eclecticism rooted within twentieth century classicism. Although compositional in texture, the expressive components contain elements of great surprise, which illustrate the strong improvisational skills of the performers.

Oboist Paul Sherman is based in ...

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Brad Dutz: When Manatees Attack

by Jim Santella
May 16, 2007

As percussionist Brad Dutz leads this improvising quartet in a program of his own compositions, he draws a connecting line between the classical music literature and modern jazz. With instruments such as oboe, English horn, cello and clarinet, you get the distinct feeling that you're sitting in on an afternoon of chamber jazz in a small auditorium somewhere near home. But his session is much more than that. Moving with exotic charm, the ensemble interprets his program with flair. Dutz ...

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Brad Dutz: When Manatees Attack

by Mark Corroto
February 7, 2007

Growing up with Warner Brothers cartoons created a subliminal soundtrack for life. Certainly the rising notes you heard in your head were for someone walking up a staircase, then there was the creeping-around-the-corner music. Later we learned this music was all produced with great thought and skill by Carl Stalling and an orchestra of highly skilled musicians, borrowing sounds from Raymond Scott and the visual storytelling traditions of Western classical music.

Listening to the chamber pieces delivered by ...

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Brad Dutz: Nine Gardeners Named Ned

by Rex Butters
November 11, 2005

Los Angeles percussionist Brad Dutz spends more time outside on Nine Gardeners Named Ned. With names like Kris Tiner, John Fumo, Sara Schoenbeck, and Ellen Burr joining the ensemble for a session of snails and adventure, the listener can expect some rare and exotic blooms. Throw William Roper's wry words into the mix, and they morph into genetically modified organisms.

Dutz's compositions require genre-melting sensibilities from the players who eagerly accommodate him. His contributions as a player add more to ...

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Brad Dutz: Nine Gardeners Named Ned

by John Kelman
May 18, 2005

West Coast percussionist Brad Dutz may have a lot of more conventional work to his credit--he's contributed to television and film scores including Star Trek: The Next Generation and Mission Impossible, as well as performing and/or recording with artists including Tribal Tech, Rickie Lee Jones, and Frank Sinatra--but when it comes to his own recordings, he's considerably farther left of centre. Nine Gardeners Named Ned feels mostly like contemporary chamber composition--at times serious, at other times absurd--while elsewhere it demonstrates ...

like 126

Brad Dutz: Nine Gardeners Named Ned

by Jim Santella
April 28, 2005

Percussionist Brad Dutz leads an all-star ensemble on this program of his creative compositions. Each piece tells a story. The ensemble, including many of Southern California's leading improvising artists, accurately shades each piece with colors and patterns that evoke various moods. The session's standout instrumental voices include Dutz on marimba and vibraphone, Kim Richmond on clarinet, John Fumo on trumpet, Anders Swanson on bass, Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, Ellen Burr on piccolo, Bob Carr on bass clarinet, and Chris Wabich ...