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Ellery Eskelin: Quiet Music
by AAJ Italy Staff
Ogni lavoro che coinvolge il sassofono tenore di Ellery Eskelin è un'esperienza di ascolto totale all'interno di un gioco di codici che hanno come riferimento tanto il jazz quanto ogni altro genere. Da tempo il sassofonista americano rifiuta le definizioni dei critici sul suo approccio allo strumento, certo utili per dare un'idea (Coltrane, Coleman Hawkins...) di quello che fa e che tuttavia non gli rendono giustizia perchè in fondo ha raggiunto una propria voce che gli permette di rendere sempre ...
Continue ReadingEllery Eskelin: Ten
by Shawn McGrew
This article was originally published under our Call and Response column. It's curious that both Andrea Parkins and Jim Black's names are absent from the front cover of Ten. This marks the tenth year the band has been together and both long-time associates do participate on this project. Despite functioning as the leader, Eskelin's been intent on presenting Parkins and Black as equals, but perhaps the additional presence of Jessica Constable, Marc Ribot and Melvin Gibbs complicate the ...
Continue ReadingEllery Eskelin: Ten
by AAJ Staff
It would have been way too predictable if tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin had celebrated the tenth anniversary of his trio with accordionist/pianist/sampler player Andrea Parkins and drummer Jim Black by putting together another record like the seven they have already made. He's never been one to rest comfortably with the safe and sure--and to be honest, there's never been anything either safe or sure about his work with Parkins and Black, which is the reason they've remained a group to ...
Continue ReadingEllery Eskelin: Ten
by Sean Patrick Fitzell
Saxophonist Ellery Eskelin's trio has always defied conventional expectations. The unusual match of his powerful, melodic tenor with the experimental accordion, piano and sampler playing of Andrea Parkins and the inimitable drumming of Jim Black is now in its tenth year. To commemorate this milestone, Eskelin surprises again on Ten by throwing out composition and inviting guests: vocalist Jessica Constable, guitarist Marc Ribot and bassist Melvin Gibbs. The use of electric guitar and bass and the all-improvised program force the ...
Continue ReadingRob Price: At Sunset
by Franz A. Matzner
Jazz is no stranger to eclecticism. Musicians have been bending, breaking, reshaping, and reincorporating since the very beginning of jazz history. In fact, departing from jazz tradition might as well be the definition of jazz. If that is indeed the case, guitarist Rob Price has, with his current release, At Sunset , marked himself as a classical jazz composer and player. Combining everything from free improvisation to country, blues, and California surf music, Price has made a ...
Continue ReadingEllery Eskelin: Forms
by Jerry D'Souza
Though Ellery Eskelin introduced Drew Gress to Phil Haynes in 1986, they recorded their first album only two years later. Before then they joined forces with trumpeter Paul Smoker in a quartet called Joint Venture and recorded three albums as such. The understanding between the musicians grew stronger over that span of time and when Eskelin recorded Setting The Standard in 1988, his first release as a leader, it was apparent that he shared a cogent relationship with Gress and ...
Continue ReadingEllery Eskelin: Forms
by Kurt Gottschalk
In sixteen years of recording, Ellery Eskelin has focused much of his work on the trio. From Joey Baron’s unusual sax-bone-drum combo Baron Down (with Steve Swell on trombone) to his own bands (notably his trio with Andrea Parkins and Jim Black, which is marking its tenth anniversary this year), the three-piece has served Eskelin well. But even on his excellent Gene Ammons tribute The Sun Died (Soul Note, 1996) Eskelin sidestepped the traditional sax-bass-drum lineup, employing guitarist Marc Ribot ...
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