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FAB Trio: History of Jazz In Reverse
by Raul d'Gama Rose
The air is full of a dark menace at the opening movements of Billy Bang's violin in “Homeward Bound," suggesting that music of overwhelming sadness will follow. However, all of this soon dissipates as bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Barry Altschul--and Bang as well--guide the music from turmoil and grave fear, loathing and gloom to the strains of brightness, hope and glory. The sense of catharsis at the end of the piece is palpable and portends well for the rest ...
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by Dave Wayne
Jazz violin, for some, is an acquired taste. Perhaps this has more to do with the instrument's dominant role in Western classical music, more than anything else, but there's something very naked and vocal about the sound of a violin--much like the saxophone, it calls forth all sorts of intense emotions. Billy Bang, who died in April 2011, understood this all too well. He endured more than his share of slings and arrows early in his musical career, only to ...
Continue ReadingFAB Trio: History of Jazz in Reverse
by Troy Collins
The late Billy Bang (1947-2011) will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the great jazz violinists. On his chosen instrument, Bang was a true innovator--a singular prodigy whose diverse experiences ranged from a brief tenure in Sun Ra's Arkestra to co-founding the groundbreaking String Trio of New York in 1977. In addition to leading his own groups, the past decade found him collaborating regularly with fellow veterans bassist Joe Fonda and drummer Barry Altschul--seasoned improvisers whose formative years were spent ...
Continue ReadingFAB Trio: Live in Amsterdam
by Terrell Kent Holmes
If three previous live albums weren't proof enough, Live in Amsterdam underscores how the FAB Trio thrives on the high-wire act of playing in front of an audience. Bassist Joe Fonda, drummer Barry Altschul and violinist Billy Bang treat the crowd at the Bimhuis Jazz Club to some excellent avant-garde virtuosity that, although lengthy and involved, is neither overlong nor self-indulgent. The trio, in various permutations, artfully blends free and straight-ahead elements to create ambitious, complex tunes. ...
Continue ReadingFAB: Fonda/Altschul/Bang: Transforming the Space
by AAJ Staff
Although each of these three players is at the peak of a relatively mountainous career, the playing of Billy Bang has simply exploded. The violinist has been active as a leader since the late '70s, but in the last few years it seems he has come back with a vengeance, most notably on Vietnam: The Aftermath (Justin Time, 2001) and William Parker's Scrapbook (Thirsty Ear, 2003). There's no need to enumerate his ample credentials in the out-jazz world, but there ...
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