Jazz Articles about Joe Giardullo

Afterfall: Afterfall

by AAJ Italy Staff
February 9, 2011

Afterfall è un incontro casuale di musicisti provenienti da diverse parti del mondo e da altrettanto diverse esperienze e percorsi artistici. Quell'incontro casuale dell'estate 2008 - un paio di concerti in Portogallo - diventa il prologo ad una conoscenza più approfondita e l'omonimo Afterfall è l'apprezzabile risultato. Ensemble democratico, apparentemente senza leader - in effetti dietro le quinte sembra operare la longa manus del chitarrista portoghese Luis Lopes, se non altro per aver voluto fortemente una testimonianza discografica di questo ...

Joe Giardullo Open Ensemble: Red Morocco

by Marc Medwin
April 10, 2008

In an interview broadcast on Taran's Free Jazz Hour last November, New York reedman Joe Giardullo likened the music on this new large ensemble disc to the collective improvisation emerging from early 20th century New Orleans. His point was that those musicians were more concerned with their own parts rather than with the act of listening so often associated with improvised music. Giardullo also likened his titles to those of early Anthony Braxton. Indeed, the composer paints a ...

Joe Giardullo: No Work Today: Nine for Steve Lacy

by John Eyles
January 9, 2006

To record an album dedicated to another musician--especially one as recently dead and as revered as Steve Lacy--is a risky business. The risk is greater if it is also an album of unaccompanied playing. If you're too reverential, you may be accused of cashing in and/or plagiarism; if you're too individualistic, you may be accused of disrespect ... and cashing in. Damned if you do, damned if you don't!

So, hats off to Joe Giardullo, who has expertly navigated his ...

Joe Giardullo: Weather, No Work Today & Falling Water

by Clifford Allen
June 11, 2005

Joe Giardullo Weather Not Two

Recorded during Giardullo's tenure as an artist-in-residence at Warsaw's Contemporary Arts Center, Weather features Giardullo solo at Krakow's Klub Re. It is in many ways difficult to get past the precedents for a solo soprano recording; Steve Lacy's Monk-with-trills and Evan Parker's breath-defying sound sculptures are an obvious reference point. Yet Weather equally paints a picture of Giardullo that owes little to predecessors; fast runs and wide vibrato might on paper ...

Joe Giardullo 4tet: Now Is

by Frank Rubolino
October 11, 2003

Spirited improvisation marks the offering of soprano saxophonist Joe Giardullo and his quartet on Now Is. Master brass and reed authority Joe McPhee is on board, as is stellar bassist Mike Bisio and fiery drummer Toni Tabbal. Together, the four artists stretch it out in free time with music that provides a kick through its high energy level and intermittent mood swings.

The program crosses through various tempo changes, yet the concept of perpetual motion remains prevalent throughout. Individual solos ...

Joe Giardullo & Sangeeta Michael Berardi: Art Spirit

by Glenn Astarita
March 4, 2003

The title of this effort is founded upon painter Robert Henri’s 1923 book The Art Spirit. As multi-reedman Joe Giardullo notes: “these duets with (guitarist) Sangeeta are paintings and drawings to me.” Hence, an appropriate correlation of what appears to be an - off the beaten path - series of duets between Giardullo and the infrequently recorded guitarist Sangeeta Michael Berardi. The latter was a proponent of the now legendary New York City loft scene, while introducing free-jazz to the ...

Joe Giardullo: Language Of Swans

by Richton Guy Thomas
February 13, 2003

Language Of Swans represents multi instrumentalist/composer Joe Giardullo's second release on Drimala Records. The first, Shadow And Light, was made with Joe McPhee on September 11, 2001.

Language of Swans has a very different feel than the sheer intensity of Giardullo's first disc. It offers an opportunity to hear Joe Giardullo’s whole musical world, with his atonal palette spanning a range of soaring, beautiful, complex, shearing notes.

The opening tune, “Rivers,” is reminiscent of an early ...