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Brandon Ross Phantom Station: Off the End
by Vic Albani
"Navigando tra luce e oscurità, con Off the End, Brandon Ross Phantom Station offre una cerimonia che è allo stesso tempo aperta e strettamente focalizzata, rivelando uno spirito impavido slegato da vincoli stilistici." Le poche parole tratte dalla recensione pubblicata da “Jazz Trail" inquadrano perfettamente e in poche parole il sunto stilistico del nuovo lavoro discografico della straordinaria creatività del signor Ross, in Italia sicuramente e purtroppo poco conosciuto a parte forse l'avventura con il collettivo avant-rock Harriet Tubman accanto ...
Continue ReadingBrandon Ross, Vinnie Sperrazza & Gordon Grdina
by Maurice Hogue
It's deep, it's different, it's unique and definitely original--the music of guitarist Brandon Ross & Phantom Station. Off The End is the feature album in this episode. Also new, drummer Vinnie Sperrazza & Apocryphal, the very creative guitar/oud player Gordon Grdina with two different albums, and a bunch of interesting music from Europe: saxophonist Signe Emmeluth Friends & Neighbors and the Scheen Jazzorkester with Cortex from Norway, Italian groups Looty Trio & Circles 44, Bulliphan} from Belgium, and Portugal's Old ...
Continue ReadingButch Morris: Current Trends in Racism in Modern America
by Howard Mandel
When a full house of ardent downtown music followers flocked to the old Kitchen, a performance loft on Broome Street in Manhattan's artsy Soho district on the cold night of February 1, 1985 to hear Current Trends in Racism in Modern America by Lawrence Douglas “Butch" Morris--I don't recall if it was advertised as “Conduction No. 1"--no one knew what to expect. At that time, as now, Butch was an inspired and productive presence on a diversified music ...
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith: Fire Illuminations
by Mike Jurkovic
Eighty-one year old trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith comes out flaring like Bitches Brew era Miles Davis, as Fire Illuminations jumps the funk rock from the break of the muscular conflagration “Ntozake." And the grunge jazz clips along as guitarists Nels Cline, Brandon Ross, and Lamar Smith vie, bite, sting, and quarrel over an insistent bass drum power-groove courtesy of bassists Bill Laswell and Melvin Gibbs, percussionist Mauro Refosco, drummer Pheeroan aKlaff, and the deep space electronics of Hardedge.
Continue ReadingWadada Leo Smith: Fire Illuminations
by Dan McClenaghan
Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith fronts lots of different bands and puts out lots of albums. After a busy period when he released five boxed sets, totaling 27 CDs, here he debuts his new all-star ensemble Orange Wave Electric, with the download-only offering, Fire Illuminations. As the band name implies, the sound is electric, featuring three electric guitarists, two electric bassists and an electronicist, joining the leader's horn, percussionist Mauro Refosco and drummer Pheeroan aKLaff. For comparison's sake--and using ...
Continue ReadingFred Hopkins/Diedre Murray Quartet: Prophecy
by AAJ Staff
In the late '80s, Fred Hopkins and Diedre Murray made an effective duo. Their unusual combination of bass and cello allowed for some interesting musical statements. Shortly thereafter they formed a quartet to expand this sound. The new members: Brandon Ross (guitar) and Newman Baker (drums). All four members played at one time or another in Henry Threadgill's groups. The stated idea behind the 1990 recording Prophecy emphasizes continuity and fluidity of musical thought.
Within a fairly straight-ahead setting, soloists ...
Continue ReadingFred Hopkins & Diedre Murray Quartet: Prophecy
by Glenn Astarita
Sadly, the inimitable bassist Fred Hopkins passed away on Thursday, January 7, 1999. Fred Hopkins was one of the busiest bassists in Chicago's creative music scene and often the bassist of choice for countless recording projects with dozens of performers too numerous to cite here. On the recently released Prophecy which was recorded in 1990 we get a glimpse of the much heralded Fred Hopkins/Diedre Murray Quartet. According to Ms. Murray, 'This was the first recording of a quartet that ...
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