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Stemeseder Lillinger + Craig Taborn: Umbra III
by Mark Corroto
Sometimes, the subversion of established paradigms unfolds through incremental variations and subtle shifts in the status quo--so gradual they can be almost imperceptible. Other times, transformation arrives in the form of unexpected revolutions, seismic and undeniable. Somewhere between these two extremes lie the musical experiments of Elias Stemeseder and Christian Lillinger. The Austrian-German duo--pianist, composer, and electronic musician Elias Stemeseder and drummer, composer, and producer Christian Lillinger--conceived Umbra, a modular ensemble framework that interweaves musical notation with fluid ...
Continue ReadingJoëlle Léandre: Lifetime Rebel
by Mark Corroto
Joëlle Léandre is the definition of a force of nature. She is unstoppable, unforgettable, and full of boundless energy. It is the nature of her force that recordings like Lifetime Rebel attempt to capture. These four CDs--plus an interview and solo performance DVD--capture a moment, but just a moment of her inexhaustible spirit, before she moves on. Recorded in 2023, Léandre was honored with a lifetime achievement award during New York's Vision Festival. The performances captured are by diverse and ...
Continue ReadingFestival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville 2024
by Mike Chamberlain
Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville Various Venues Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada May 16-19, 2024 The 40th edition of the Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville, held May 16-19, was marked by the big change of artistic directors from founding director Michel Levasseur to Scott Thomson, former artistic director of the Guelph Jazz Festival. On the other hand, the programming itself stayed true to the history of the festival, with perhaps a stronger ...
Continue ReadingCraig Taborn e Borderlands Trio a Roma
by Giuseppe Segala
Craig Taborn Solo, Borderlands Trio Casa del Jazz, Parco della Musica Roma 25, 28.11.2023 La fase finale della programmazione d'autunno alla Casa del Jazz di Roma ha offerto l'opportunità dell'ascolto ravvicinato di due tra le personalità al vertice del pianoforte, e della creazione musicale in senso lato, in circolazione oggi. Craig Taborn, a Roma in solo e Kris Davis, con il trio Borderlands, interpretano due orientamenti complementari di un'idea che si colloca nell'universo vasto ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Got The Keys To The Kingdom: Live At The Village Vanguard
by Ian Patterson
The title references an old gospel song, but for Chris Potter the keys in question could be those to the Village Vanguard. This is the saxophonist's third live recording from jazz's most storied club, not counting those with Paul Motian. For musicians and fans alike, this is hallowed turf. But it's not just about playing at The Village Vanguard. Documenting those dates is key--a rite of passage, to judge by the dozens of revered jazz musicians who have made live ...
Continue ReadingRob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra: Lightning Dreamers
by Mark Corroto
The similarities between Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra and Sun Ra's Arkestra are numerous. Both leaders travel the spaceways via the technologies available in their time, applied through dynamic rhythm and pulse. For Ra, his sound began when he was an apprentice in Fletcher Henderson's band in the 1940s, and Mazurek's 1990s work revolved around Isotope 217 and the various Chicago Underground (and later São Paulo Underground) ensembles. Both bandleaders were composers of their time, nonetheless they always create music ...
Continue ReadingChris Potter: Got The Keys To The Kingdom (Live At The Village Vanguard)
by Chris May
There is a lot of heavy ordnance going off during this album. Indeed, the incoming only lets up once, and then briefly, during a performance of Billy Strayhorn's Blood Count" at the halfway point. For the rest of the sixty-one minutes playing time, the watchword is eruptive. But no PPE is required. The barrage is benign. This is the third album Chris Potter has recorded live at the Vanguard. The attraction is no surprise. Saxophonists, especially those ...
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