Jazz Articles about Frank Gratkowski

Frank Gratkowski / Jacob Anderskov: Ardent Grass

by Nic Jones
January 31, 2011

The reeds-piano duo is hardly overdone within the recorded canon, but then neither has it been as rare or unusual as some lineups. This particular duo is apparently not unaware of this, and there's a personality to its work that's entirely its own.There's a little of Anthony Braxton about Frank Gratkowski's alto sax playing on the opening “Narrative" but not enough to distract the ear from the profundity of the music-making. Pianist Jacob Anderskov's touch is, by turns, ...

Frank Gratkowski / Jacob Anderskov: Ardent Grass

by Jerry D'Souza
December 16, 2010

Over the years, reed/woodwind multi-instrumentalist Frank Gratkowski has formed a series of potent combinations with other musicians. His first was with Georg Graewe in 1992 before he went on to fruitful collaborations with Gerry Hemingway, Wilbert DeJoode, Michael Vatcher and Herb Robertson, among others. Gratkowski has the ingrained ability to turn the presence of his musical partners into a creative force that exemplifies the art of improvisation, and does it once more with pianist Jacob Anderskov on Ardent Grass, which ...

Gratkowski - Nabatov - Schmickler: Deployment

by AAJ Italy Staff
October 7, 2010

Suoni sottili, sgraziati, note sfumate, fuori contesto... E' quello che troviamo in questo disco, a momenti agganciato all'improvvisazione radicale inglese, in altri al free storico. Gratkowski anima l'intera session passando da situazioni che cercano un centro di gravità ad altre in cui è lui a proporsi, visceralmente, come trascinatore del trio, con una personalità che poco guarda alle finezze, proponendosi in veste di vero freejazzer. La competizione così innescata fra i tre porta una piacevole scintilla all'ascolto. Tutto scorre, certo, ...

Gratkowski / Nabatov / Schmickler: Deployment

by Glenn Astarita
June 14, 2010

Armed and prepared for battle, prominent improvisers Frank Gratkowski (reeds) and Simon Nabatov (prepared piano) align forces with computer operator Marcus Schmickler for a sequence of strategic maneuvers. They commence the Deployment with haunting overlays, via Nabatov's clustered phrasings and Schmickler's ethereal, and sometimes subliminal, overlays or interjections. Gratkowski commandeers a free form impetus, spanning boisterous sax and clarinet parts amid shifting movements and alterations to the ensuing skirmish.

The trio synthesizes an array of mood-evoking frameworks via ...

Frank Gratkowski: Accept Everything

by Martin Longley
November 12, 2009

Virtuoso German reed specialist Frank Gratkowski enjoys a particularly fertile range of collaborations, settings and directional thrusts. He was back in New York in October, 2009 with a trio that has released three albums during the last six years: Kwast (Konnex, 2004), Unearth (Nuscope, 2005) and Palaë (Leo, 2006). Appearing at Roulette, Gratkowski was joined by pianist Achim Kaufmann and bassist Wilbert De Joode, both of whom hail from the Netherlands. The gig is billed as a session of “improvised ...

Frank Gratkowski - Chris Brown - William Winant: wake

by AAJ Italy Staff
March 10, 2009

wake è il primo lavoro in Trio di tre giganti della scena improvvisativa degli ultimi vent'anni, Frank Gratkowski, Chris Brown e William Winant, che danno alle stampe per la Red Toucan una registrazione effettuata al Mills College di Oakland in California nel marzo del 2007. Il compositore, sassofonista e clarinettista tedesco Frank Gratkowski si conficca con grande esperienza nelle maglie del duo americano Winant-Brown, contribuendo con la propria ricca esperienza a dar vita ad un progetto decisamente corposo. La registrazione ...

Frank Gratkowski: Palae, Wake and Live at the Musik Triennale Koln

by John Sharpe
March 7, 2009

Achim Kaufman/ Frank Gratkowski/ Wilbert de Joode Palae Leo Records 2007 Frank Gratkowski/ Chris Brown/ William Winant Wake Red Toucan Records 2008 James Choice Orchestra live at the musik triennale koln Leo Records 2008

German reedman Frank Gratkowski has become an increasingly significant presence on both ...