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Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York: Entity
by Dan McClenaghan
Pianist / composer Satoko Fujii has staked out her ground as one of the most original voices in jazz—or in any artform, for that matter. She has released more than eighty albums, beginning with her 1995 debut, Something About Water (Libra Records), a piano duet set with Paul Bley. She tours relentlessly. She records in every ensemble format imaginable: solos, duos, trios, quartets and big bands. Lots of big bands, based in Berlin, Tokyo, Kobe, Nagoya, New York.
Continue ReadingSatoko Fujii Orchestra New York: Entity
by Karl Ackermann
As she did in 2019, pianist/composer Satoko Fujii—an artist at home in many formations—opens the new decade with an orchestra recording. Entity, from Fujii's Orchestra New York, is the eleventh release from the ensemble that has remained largely intact for almost twenty-three years. It is an all-star collective that includes saxophonists Oscar Noriega, Ellery Eskelin and Tony Malaby, trumpeters Natsuki Tamura and Herb Robertson, guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Ches Smith. Entity has its moments of tranquility but ...
Continue ReadingThe Nels Cline 4 At Higher Ground
by Doug Collette
The Nels Cline 4 Showcase Lounge at Higher Ground South Burlington, Vermont July 2, 2018 The actual calendar date of July 4th was two days away and the biggest local celebration was scheduled for the very next night at Burlington's waterfront. Yet some bonafide fireworks occurred in the Showcase Lounge of Higher Ground on Monday July 2 and while there were many fewer witnesses to this summer holiday celebration, at least compared to the neighboring ...
Continue ReadingThe Nels Cline 4: Currents, Constellations
by Mark Sullivan
Guitarist/composer Nels Cline's new quartet builds upon his collaboration with guitarist Julian Lage, which was documented on Room (Mack Avenue, 2014). Both wondered what it would be like to add a rhythm section; respected players, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Tom Rainey, accepted the invitation to join the duo during a residency at The Stone in New York City, and this band was born. As on the duet album, both guitars play it straight. There is no acoustic guitar here, ...
Continue ReadingNels Cline: Currents, Constellations
by Maurizio Comandini
Il primo brano di questo ottimo Currents, Constellation del quartetto di Nels Cline, parte con un accordo straniante e inaspettato che funge da establishing shot. Come succede in tanti film e telefilm, la prima inquadratura è studiata proprio per darci subito le coordinate di un preciso punto di vista che ci trascina dentro alla storia che sta per essere raccontata. Questo succede appunto con l'inizio di “Furtive" ma poi questa sensazione di essere presi per un orecchio ed essere riposizionati ...
Continue ReadingNels Cline: Currents, Constellations
by Mike Jurkovic
Reigning Wilco guitarist and avant sound sculptor Nels Cline begins his second Blue Note release Currents, Constellations with a loud, vibrant crash of guitar crunch that echoes his many alt/rock road trips. But very quickly the responsive and elastic rhythm section of bassist Scott Colley and drummer Tom Rainey charges forth while Cline and soul-mate guitarist Julian Lage head off for the electric hinterlands. When one pauses to consider that, for a decade plus, Cline has had plenty ...
Continue ReadingNels and Alex Cline: 50 Years in the Making
by Jonathan Manning
On their sixty-second birthday, Nels Cline and Alex Cline realized they had been playing music together for fifty years. Since their very youngest days playing music, finding inspiration in The Byrds and King Crimson and exploring jazz and experimental music most of their peers wouldn't bat an eye at, the twins have developed recordings and performed at countless shows that highlight their venture into adventurous music-making. While the brothers now reside on opposite coasts--Alex in Los Angeles, still close to ...
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