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Ches Smith, Damasiewicz / Wania, Fujii / Ono & Roberto Ottaviano
by Maurice Hogue
Plenty of genre-stretching music in this episode, from drummer Ches Smith's new Laugh Ash, vocalist Amirtha Kidambi & Elder Ones and their drive to make their music reflect the need for protest, and the Ewart/Asplin/Ricks Trio, featuring master AACM reedist Douglas Ewart, recorded live at BYU. Polish trumpeter Piotr Damasiewicz hooks up with fellow Pole, the talented pianist Dominik Wania for the intimate The Way, The Truth, The Life “ while Satoko Fujii joins saxophonist Ryoko Ono for a sparkling ...
Continue ReadingNew Music From Ches Smith, Eva Novoa, Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanj, And More
by Bob Osborne
On this show we feature new music from Ches Smith, Eva Novoa, Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanj, Matthieu Bordenave, Adam Schroeder & Mark Masters, Ewart Asplund Ricks Trio , Christoph Gallio Day & Taxi, Recabarren Menares Vazquez, Ken Vandermark's Edition Redux, Drazek Fuscaldo Drake Aoki Jones & Abrams, and a recording from the 1960s from Michael Garrick.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Ches Smith “Sweatered Webs (Hey Mom)" from Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic) 01:00 Eva Novoa “Rocket Man" from Novoa / ...
Continue ReadingChes Smith: Laugh Ash
by Vic Albani
Dopo lo straordinario lavoro dedicato al Vudù haitiano del 2021 (Path of Seven Colors) anch'esso uscito per la straordinaria Pyroclastic Records di Kris Davis, il batterista, percussionista e compositore Ches Smith, acclamato dal New York Times come “uno dei batteristi più dinamici della scena sperimentale del pianeta," colpisce ancora con un nuovo sorprendente lavoro immensamente variegato, sorprendente (bisognerebbe scriverlo almeno due volte una dopo l'altra) ed imprevedibile sotto ogni punto di vista. La singolare visione musicale del musicista ...
Continue ReadingMendoza / Hoff / Revels: Echolocation
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 ...
Continue ReadingMatt Mitchell: Oblong Aplomb
by John Sharpe
On Oblong Aplomb pianist Matt Mitchell pays homage to the drummers in his life. In a way, it can be seen as a follow-up to his debut Fiction (Pi Recordings, 2013). That album, a duet with stickman Ches Smith, originated from Mitchell's practice of warming up for gigs with Tim Berne's Snakeoil by running through a series of etudes he had written to warm up his pianistic muscles. Smith, a colleague in the band, began to play along and the ...
Continue ReadingMichael Formanek Elusion Quartet: As Things Do
by Troy Dostert
The Elusion Quartet has become one of bassist Michael Formanek's more formidable ensembles, even if it is a more recent project than his long- standing work with Tomas Fujiwara and Mary Halvorson in Thumbscrew, or the many recordings he has made with prominent saxophonists ranging from Tim Berne to Marty Ehrlich and Ellery Eskelin. Although As Things Do is only the second release by the group, it is a superb album in every respect and a strong contender for year-end ...
Continue ReadingAlex Weiss: Most Don't Have Enough
by Robert Middleton
This album is really special. It doesn't sound like anything else and every song is engaging and interesting. The titles of the songs are also fascinating. Even the collage cover is great and seems to reflect the music. Tenor saxophonist Alex Weiss started writing Most Don't Have Enough during the pandemic and went deep into writing and practicing. Much of the inspiration came from Chris Speed, as Weiss is a big fan of his writing and his tone. ...
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