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Chris Potter: The Dreamer Is the Dream
by Mark Sullivan
Saxophonist/composer Chris Potter's two previous ECM albums as leader both had a “special project" air about them. The Sirens (2013) was inspired by the epic poem The Odyssey, and featured an unusual quintet with two keyboardists. Imaginary Cities (2015) featured the Underground Orchestra, an expansive lineup of his Underground quartet plus two bassists, percussion, and string quartet. For this third release Potter presents a new acoustic quartet. It's not a studio band: the recording sessions were preceded by a long ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: The Dreamer Is the Dream
by Karl Ackermann
Multi-reedist and composer Chris Potter has been an in-demand artist since his late teen years when he began playing the New York clubs. With a diverse catalog that runs from Steely Dan to regular collaborations with Dave Holland, Potter has picked up a number of Grammy nominations and wins. His versatile abilities have made him equally at home touring with the lyrical Jim Hall or recording in the angular style of Steve Swallow's Damaged in Transit (WATT/ECM, 2003). The Dreamer ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter Quartet at Village Vanguard
by Tyran Grillo
Chris Potter Quartet Village Vanguard Greenwich Village, NY February 14, 2016 After showing so strongly at New York's 2016 Winter Jazzfest, Chris Potter and his quartet with pianist David Virelles, bassist Joe Martin, and drummer Marcus Gilmore took the Village Vanguard by weeklong storm. The final performance dropped on Valentine's Day during this winter's coldest snap, filling the evening air with more than enough passion to combat the freeze. Among Potter's many gifts--he ...
Continue ReadingNYC Winter Jazzfest 2016
by Dan Bilawsky
NYC Winter JazzfestNew York, NYJanuary 13-17, 2016 If you make the rounds in New York City on any night of the week, during any week of the year, there's always an abundance of quality jazz to hear. But when NYC Winter Jazzfest takes hold, the cup truly runneth over. This massive annual event amplifies this already-vibrant scene, bringing it to critical mass while drawing in jazz fans, musicians, and industry members from near and far. ...
Continue ReadingECM Fest at SFJAZZ
by Harry S. Pariser
ECM Fest SFJAZZSan Francisco, CA March 26-29, 2015 In 1969, German record producer Manfred Eicher founded ECM, a label which would change music history. Since then his “Edition of Contemporary Music" imprint has more than lived up to its name, issuing well over a thousand albums by classic jazz, experimental, world and classical artists. A small yet brilliant portion of that artistry was brought to San Francisco's SFJAZZ for ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter Underground Orchestra: Imaginary Cities
by Eric J. Iannelli
Writing jazz music, says Chris Potter, is “a bit of a zen exercise." “A lot of what you're thinking about when you're writing is the stuff that's not there. You're thinking about the solos and the way the band is going to play it together--things that can't be notated." For Imaginary Cities, his eighteenth and most recent album as bandleader, composition presented the saxophonist with a greater challenge than usual on account of just how much ...
Continue ReadingA Fireside Chat With Chris Potter
by AAJ Staff
This article was originally published in December 2001.I remember first seeing Chris Potter playing with Paul Motian and most recently with the highly regarded Dave Holland Quintet. His improvement in the two or so years time is nothing short of remarkable. I can only compare his development with Scott Colley, who happens (and not just by chance) to appear on Potter's Verve debut, Gratitude, a tribute/dedication/thank you to a who's who of saxophonists. Potter has had one hell ...
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