Jazz Articles about Lou Grassi

like 164

Ken Wessel, Ken Filiano & Lou Grassi: Jawboning

by Derek Taylor
February 12, 2005

Matriculation from sideman to frontman can be a stressful process. Guitarist Ken Wessel makes the long due move with aplomb. A short string of CIMP dates supporting saxophonist William Gagliardi and violinist Sam Bardfield, as well as a long-standing slot in Ornette Coleman's Prime Time band, solidified the clout. Wessel chose Lou Grassi, his colleague in the Gagliardi group, and the drummer in turn suggested the participation of bassist Ken Filiano.

Wessel's easygoing, unassuming approach jibes well with ...

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Lou Grassi: Joining Two Worlds

by Rico Cleffi
February 11, 2005

Drummer Lou Grassi has appeared on over two dozen sessions in addition to serving up over a half dozen of his own CDs, many at the helm of his Po Band group which has featured such special guests as Sun Ra Arkestra saxophonist and bandleader Marshall Allen, the legendary Danish saxophonist John Tchicai and Art Ensemble of Chicagoan Joseph Jarman. A fixture on the New York jazz scene as one of the most reliable drummers whose flexibility naturally criss-crosses the ...

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Lou Grassi Quartet: Avanti Galoppi

by Derek Taylor
November 23, 2004

Inspiration for album titles rarely conforms to any sort of conventional wisdom. Witness the curious phrase chosen by drummer Lou Grassi to christen his latest CIMP offering. The Italian expression translates to “gallop ahead," a directive that mirrors Grassi's tendency toward barely bridled energy behind his kit. Subtlety and passivity aren't his usual temperaments and he's vigorously stoked the rhythmic engines of many a free music ensemble. Still, his sensitive touch on the balladic opening piece here counters the argument ...

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CIMP (Creative Improvised Music Projects)

by Sean Patrick Fitzell
December 14, 2003

The music doesn't sound like anything you've heard before. The art and packaging doesn't look like other CDs either. And that's exactly the point. Since 1995, founder and executive producer Robert Rusch has been recording and releasing music on his label CIMP--Creative Improvised Music Projects--with a personal touch. “I put my stamp on it by not putting my stamp on it," says Rusch. He is referring to CIMP's audio aesthetic of recording without compression of the signals, “fixes" ...

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Lou Grassi's PoBand and John Tchicai: comPOsed

by Glenn Astarita
January 24, 2003

Seven years running amid a few personnel changes along the way, drummer Lou Grassi’s PoBand conglomerate is most assuredly founded upon richly formulated methodologies. With this effort, legendary modern jazz saxophonist/composer John Tchicai lends his expansive talents to this supercharged quintet. Yet sadly, this recording marks one of the final sessions of the great modern jazz bassist Wilber Morris, who passed away on August 8, 2002.

The title, comPOsed sets the paradigm for this outing. In the ...

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Gunter Heinz & Lou Grassi: Live In Wuppertal

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

New York City-based drummer/percussionist, Lou Grassi has been interrogating the modern jazz genre for quite some time, largely due to his ongoing “PoBand” aggregation. Grassi’s often-ferocious polyrhythmic attack is prominently highlighted during this pared down set featuring trombonist, Gunter Heinz, and special guest, guitarist Peter A. Worringer.

Simply put, Grassi and Heinz, engage on a musical seek and destroy mission. On this live outing recorded at a German venue, the duo intertwines general playfulness with varying levels of intensity as ...

like 136

Lou Grassi's PoBand + Joseph Jarman: The Joy of Being

by Glenn Astarita
November 1, 2001

Venerable modern jazz drummer/group leader, Lou Grassi’s improvising “PoBand” aggregation, join forces with famed “Art Ensemble of Chicago” saxophonist, Joseph Jarman on this effervescent release titled, Joy of Being. The drummer’s compelling polyrhythmic attack provides the often steamy undercurrents for a production that is chock full of round robin type exchanges, and the soloists’ verbose proclamations. On the twenty-four minute opener “Rhythm Rules,” Jarman initiates various motifs for trumpeter, Paul Smoker, trombonist, Steve Swell and Perry Robinson, although the musicians ...