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Peter Van Huffel's Callisto: Meandering Demons
by Glenn Astarita
Peter Van Huffel, the Canadian-born saxophonist and composer, has long been a force to reckon with in the avant-garde jazz scene. Known for his work with bands like Gorilla Mask and his various collaborations with other innovative musicians, Van Huffel has consistently pushed the boundaries of jazz, incorporating elements of free improvisation, rock and classical music. His previous albums, such as Boom Crane (Fresh Sounds New Talent, 2014) and The Scrambling Ex (FMR, 2015), displayed his fearless approach to composition ...
Continue ReadingPeter Van Huffel’s Callisto: Meandering Demons
by Alberto Bazzurro
Quartetto geograficamente misto, quello diretto dal quarantaseienne (quasi) baritonista canadese Peter Van Huffel, con una trombettista italo-canadese, un pianista greco e un batterista tedesco. Molto coesa, compatta, illuminata (e guidata) da un'idea forte è peraltro la musica contenuta in quest'ottimo album, inciso a Berlino nell'ottobre 2022. L'idea di cui sopra si deve certamente al leader (tutti suoi i brani, ciò che con una buona lente d'ingrandimento riuscirete a leggere, blu su nero...), ma la coesione del quartetto Callisto fa sì ...
Continue ReadingStephen Gauci / Joe Hertenstein / Alexander von Schlippenbach / Jan Roder: Soundlift Berlin-New York
by John Sharpe
Soundlift Berlin-New York is the second release documenting NYC tenor saxophonist Stephen Gauci's visit to the German capital following Live At Sowieso, Berlin (Gaucimusic, 2023). It finds him in different company, with drummer Joe Hertenstein, who divides his time between the two cities of the title, the familiar face this time out. Also on this studio date are acclaimed pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach and bassist Jan Roder, a pair with common ground in Die Enttäuschung and their rendition of Thelonious ...
Continue ReadingAron Namenwirth, Daniel Carter, Joe Hertenstein, Zach Swanson: Live at the Bushwick Series
by Alberto Bazzurro
Un quartetto di cui il chitarrista Aron Namenwirth è il primo (e sul CD l'unico) firmatario ma che abbraccia in realtà il “vangelo" dell'improvvisazione collettiva (facendo non poco leva sul polistrumentismo quanto mai eclettico di Daniel Carter, che affianca alla tromba sax tenore, soprano e contralto) firma questo brillante lavoro il cui sdipanarsi (sei episodi svarianti dai quattro ai dieci minuti) non mostra mai la corda, rischio così frequente (verrebbe da dire quasi fisiologico) in una formula tanto praticata quanto ...
Continue ReadingSana Nagano: Smashing Humans
by Hrayr Attarian
Violinist Sana Nagano is an idiosyncratic and accomplished artist who is immersed in New York's avant-garde scene. Her sonic experiments are an end in themselves, thrilling and provocative as well as quite intimate. Nagano's debut with her new quintet, the electrifying, Smashing Humans, expresses this singular vision to its fullest, creating a wholly absorbing work of rare beauty. The cinematic “Humans in Grey" starts off with Nagano playing repeating scales that saxophonist Peter Apfelbaum echoes. The entry of ...
Continue ReadingAron Namenwirth / Daniel Carter / Joe Hertenstein / Zach Swanson: Live At The Bushwick Series
by John Sharpe
This instalment of the Live At The Bushwick Series offers a communiqué from the front line of free jazz in New York City. It's the sort of below the radar activity which is rarely documented, but nonetheless deserves to be heard. In this particular case, it's also part of an ongoing event, curated by saxophonist and label boss Stephen Gauci, which happens downstairs every Monday night in Brooklyn's Bushwick Public House. Guitarist Aron Namenwirth and trumpeter and reedman Daniel Carter ...
Continue ReadingJoe Hertenstein - Achim Tang - Jon Irabagon: Future Drone
by Glenn Astarita
Now residing in New York City, Germany-reared drummer Joe Hertenstein employs musicians from Europe or the US and to some extent, merges the avant-garde strata and stylistic tendencies into an opportunistic creative forum. This trio outing is a prime example. Featuring Viennese bassist Achim Tang and American tenor saxophonist Jon Irabagon, the album pronounces a shrewd conglomeration of avant- garde minimalism, and excitable free-jazz with nervy sensibilities. Hertenstein is a master at complementing his band mates' gait via meticulously designed ...
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