Jazz Articles about Marty Ehrlich

Marty Ehrlich: Song

by David Adler
November 1, 2001

Reedsman Marty Ehrlich enlists pianist Uri Caine, bassist Michael Formanek, and drummer Billy Drummond for this lyrical, swinging, accessible set. After opening with Robin Holcomb's melancholy “Waltz" (a feature for Ehrlich's brilliant bass clarinet), the quartet embarks on a trilogy of Ehrlich-penned pieces. “The Price of the Ticket," inspired by James Baldwin, begins with a beautifully orchestrated rubato section before breaking into a burning swing tempo, laying a foundation for incisive solos by Ehrlich (on alto), Caine, and Drummond. “Day ...

Ehrlich/Dresser/Cyrille: C/D/E

by AAJ Staff
June 1, 2001

At some point in its history, free jazz differentiated into two forms: chamber music-style improvisation and in-your-face adventurism. Some free players prefer to use silence and nuance as tools for measured cadences, while others go for the all-out emotional release as a tool for catharsis. This trio is interesting because it includes elements from both traditions of music. C/D/E brings a revealing '98 set to light, with some regular head-solos-head type pieces, a few Ornette-ish quirks, and scattered chunks of ...

Marty Ehrlich/Myra Melford: Yet Can Spring

by AAJ Staff
March 1, 2001

From the opening notes of Yet Can Spring, it's clear that Myra Melford and Marty Ehrlich occupy common ground. It's not common in any other sense of the word, though. These two players each have a unique perspective on the intersection of straight-ahead improvisation with its freer forms, and both dwell eagerly at the interface. At times lyrical and introspective, at other times crashing down from the hilltops like a banshee, Melford can be like a wolf in sheep's clothing ...

Marty Ehrlich's Traveler's Tales: Malinke's Dance

by Glenn Astarita
September 1, 2000

Woodwind specialist/composer Marty Ehrlich is undoubtedly one of the brightest musicians in modern jazz, and with his band “Traveler’s Tales”, the artist along with his counterpart, saxophonist Tony Malaby trade vicious fours while engaging in complex yet thoroughly melodic choruses. And with the equally prominent rhythm section consisting of drummer Bobby Previte and bassist Jerome Harris, Ehrlich’s fabled band gets out of the gate in a flurry, recorded live at the Knitting Factory’s – Old Office venue.

Malinke’s Dance represents ...

Ehrlich/Erskine/Formanek: Relativity

by David Adler
January 1, 2000

The names alone recommend this CD. Multi-woodwind maven Marty Ehrlich has long been a fixture of New York’s downtown avant-garde circle. Peter Erskine was a superstar fusion drummer in the 70s and 80s and remains a very important jazz voice, steadily developing his capabilities as a straight-ahead/free player and composer. Michael Formanek, a quiet presence on the straight-ahead scene for many years, is becoming increasingly known as a top-flight player and leader.This heavy-hitting trio is known as Relativity, ...

Ken Peplowski: Grenadilla

by Jack Bowers
August 1, 1998

Ken Peplowski, who has done some experimenting of late within the big-band and classical spheres, comes home to a straight-ahead quartet groove for Grenadilla, on which he plays only clarinet (grenadilla is the name of the wood from which the world's finest clarinets are made). This is clarinet all the way, with Peplowski's group augmented by guests Kenny Davern ("Farewell Blues"), Marty Ehrlich ("Copi," “The Reconsidered Blues," “Variations," “The Soul in the Wood"), J. D. Parran and Scott Robinson ("Variations"). ...

Ken Peplowski: Grenadilla

by Robert Spencer
August 1, 1998

Here clarinetist extraordinaire Ken Peplowski takes on some challenges: alongside his sidemen pianist Ben Aronov, bassist Greg Cohen, and drummer Chuck Redd, are guests Howard Alden on acoustic and electric guitars (on five tracks), Marty Ehrlich on clarinet and bass clarinet (four tracks), Kenny Davern on clarinet ("Farewell Blues"), and Scott Robinson on alto clarinet and J. D. Parran on contrabass clarinet ("Variations"). Ehrlich and Parran have played in recent years with Anthony Braxton, and are not quite the guests ...