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Mike Reed's People, Places & Things: Clean on the Corner
by Troy Collins
Originally founded in 2008 to commemorate the lesser known “people, places & things" that have historically supported Chicago's progressive jazz scene, Mike Reed's ensemble of the same name continues to ply its bold interpretations of lesser known covers and swinging originals on Clean on the Corner, their fourth recording for 482 Music. Although this session breaks from the prevailing concept that defined their first three releases, it continues to skillfully balance inside and outside traditions, drawing inspiration from past antecedents ...
Continue ReadingMike Reed: People Places and Things: Clean On The Corner
by Mark Corroto
The fourth installment of drummer Mike Reed's People, Place & Things project departs from his original modus operandi of paying tribute to the Chicago jazz and improvised scene circa 1954-1960. Despite this, Reed could not divorce himself of his heritage; Clean On the Corner bristles with the legacy of Chicago's broad sounds and the inspiration of the AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians).As with his previous discs--Stories And Negotiations (482 Music, 2010), About Us (482 Music, ...
Continue ReadingMike Reed's People, Places & Things: Stories And Negotiations
by Martin Longley
This third album by Mike Reed's People, Places & Things (PP&T) takes its position as the most direct manifestation of the combo's agreed purpose. The Chicago drummer has begun a journey of rediscovery, or even introduction, to the old jazz sounds of that city's late '50s period. Reed's concept is not to reproduce, but to respond to vintage sounds via the platform of a modern-day band. Usually, PP&T takes the shape of a quartet, but for this ...
Continue ReadingMike Reed: The Drum Thing
by Gordon Marshall
There is not a name yet for what Mike Reed does on drums. Elvin Jones created polyrhythmics; Rashied Ali, multi-directionalism. Reed is delivering something related but distinct. It has as much to do with tonal complexity as with keeping the beat, but the complexity goes beyond that, into a recombination of the many drumming styles of jazz history. “Pan-tonalism" might characterize it, but it doesn't roll off the tongue the way his sticks roll off his heads.Through his ...
Continue ReadingMike Reed's People, Places & Things: Stories and Negotiations
by Troy Collins
Stories and Negotiations is the final chapter in Chicago-based drummer Mike Reed's People, Places & Things trilogy. Debuting with 2008's Proliferation (482 Music), Reed founded this piano-less quartet to investigate an often overlooked period of Chicago's jazz history--the mid-1950s to early 1960s--when the city's after-hours jam session culture flirted with avant-garde collectivism, eventually giving birth to the AACM.
The quartet, whose members include ubiquitous bassist Jason Roebke and the fulsome alto/tenor duo of Greg Ward and Tim Haldeman, ...
Continue ReadingMike Reed's People, Places & Things: About Us
by Jeff Stockton
Mike Reed's People, Places & Things was conceived as a band dedicated to reviving and expanding on aspects of the Chicago jazz scene of the late 1950s, bringing a fresh approach and contemporary ideas to the music of that era. About Us continues in that vein, but as the title states, its focus is more on the band itself. Although led by a drummer, this piano-less quartet puts the dynamics in the hands of saxophonists Tim Haldeman (tenor) and Greg ...
Continue ReadingMike Reed's People, Places & Things: About Us
by AAJ Italy Staff
Il batterista chicagoano Mike Reed è uno dei nomi emergenti dell'attuale jazz statunitense. Invitato all'ultimo festival di Sant'Anna Arresi, dove ha suscitato una favorevole impressione, il 3 maggio 2010 sarà ospite della rassegna padovana “Ostinati". Tuttavia questo suo CD, registrato in studio fra febbraio e marzo 2009, in parte delude le aspettative, perché la musica non sempre prende il volo, nonostante tanti elementi positivi e indubbie potenzialità. Se in Proliferation, il primo CD del quartetto People, Places & Things, Reed ...
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