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Joel Futterman: Innervoice
by John Sharpe
Veteran pianist Joel Futterman may be best known for his long association with saxophonist Kidd Jordan and drummer Alvin Fielder, but he is also a prolific purveyor of solo sessions. Innervoice, recorded in July 2024, is a worthy addition to a tally that also includes gems like the monumental five CD box set Creation Series (NoBusiness, 2021), among many others. Like much of Futterman's output, it was birthed entirely in the moment, with no subsequent edits. That suggests stupendous concentration, ...
Continue ReadingJoel Futterman: Innervoice
by Mark Corroto
On each of the three tracks that comprise Innervoice, pianist Joel Futterman begins with just two notes. Each note resounds in the listener's ear long after the auditory perception has faded. These two notes act as Futterman's conjuring device for what is to come. The pianist, now in his eighth decade, is playing as strong as he ever has. Even though his discography is nearing 100 releases, this solo piano recording may be the best entry point for new listeners. ...
Continue ReadingJoel Futterman, William Parker, Chad Fowler, Steve Hirsh: The Deep
by Karl Ackermann
The Deep brings together the quartet of pianist Joel Futterman, bassist William Parker, saxophonist Chad Fowler, and drummer Steve Hirsh. Individually—and collectively—they have been the catalysts for many who wander to the farther bounds of jazz. This leaderless group has recorded in distinct member formations, with Futterman and Parker dating back to Authenticity (Kali Records, 1998). Fowler, on his Mahakala label, has issued post-2020 releases with each of his bandmates. The Deep comprises a single title track drawing on many ...
Continue ReadingJoel Futterman & Steve Hirsh: Warp & Weft
by Mark Corroto
Neuroscientists, psychologists, philosophers, and modern Buddhist practitioners have all grappled with the concept of consciousness. On one hand, the science-oriented folk propose consciousness to be stuff that designates the 'me' inside a person vis-à-vis the world, whereas the more spiritual approach eschews a dualistic definition in favor of a universal or 'one' consciousness. If we take up the debate using improvised music as an example, specifically Warp & Weft by Joel Futterman and Steve Hirsh, the 'me' falls away leaving ...
Continue ReadingEdward 'Kidd' Jordan, Joel Futterman, William Parker, Hamid Drake: A Tribute to Alvin Fielder - Live at Vision Festival XXIV
by Troy Dostert
When the free jazz world lost drummer Alvin Fielder in 2019, it lamented the passing of someone who had in many ways worked to expand the reach of avant-garde jazz, to widen its accessibility to fans and students alike. His well-known status as a founding member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and Black Arts Music Society, not to mention his participation on seminal recordings like Roscoe Mitchell's Sound (Delmark, 1966), should not overshadow his presence ...
Continue ReadingAvant Piano and Saxophone Duets: Interaction & SAMA
by John Sharpe
Joel Futterman / Kidd Jordan Interaction Self produced 2010 Matthew Shipp/ Sabir Mateen SAMA Not Two Records 2010 Sax-piano duets have an illustrious lineage. The vast majority have relied on compositional signposts to direct their musings, something avoided on these two studio dates that unite seasoned musicians who have made infrequent joint forays into the territory. First up is the appropriately named Interaction from ...
Continue ReadingThe Joel Futterman / Alvin Fielder / Ike Levin Trio: Traveling Through Now
by Henry Smith
Free jazz has always defined itself more by what it is not than by what it is. With an embrace of complete freedom of form comes a nearly infinite realm of musical possibility that has continued to expand since its cultural relevance began in the early 1960s. As various interpretations arose, a sort of nonlinear historiography developed including, among others, the spiritual jazz of John Coltrane, the “small instruments" sound of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, the big band reconfigurations ...
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