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Peter Madsen Trio: Faces of Love

by Troy Dostert
Although its title might suggest a surfeit of sentimentalism or saccharine balladry, there is nothing mawkish about pianist Peter Madsen's latest trio offering. Madsen instead is seeking a wider perspective from which to explore love in all its forms, drawing inspiration from a panoply of sources both familiar (Shakespeare, Dickinson, Blake) and not-so-familiar (Indian poet-activist Sarojini Naidu, Japanese poet Ono no Komachi). Accompanied by his stellar partners, bassist Herwig Hammerl and drummer Martin Grabher, the results are a stirring set ...
Continue ReadingPeter Madsen, Immanuel Wilkins, and the WDR Big Band

by Jerome Wilson
This program contains new music from Peter Madsen, the WDR Big Band and the Steve Allee Big Band. It also features Immanuel Wilkins, Jaki Byard, and Taylor Ho Bynum. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Joel Harrison Skin Frontier" from 3+3=7 (9 Winds) 00:55 Dave Stryker Cavatina" from Stryker and Strings Goes to the Movies (Stirkezone) 4:08 Jerry Kalaf ...
Continue ReadingPeter Madsen's CIA Trio: 88 Butterfly

by Mike Jurkovic
Veteran pianist & composer Peter Madsen, despite having accompanied or mentored such leading lights and legends as Chris Potter, Maria Schneider, Ravi Coltrane, Stan Getz, Roy Hargrove and Benny Golson, seems to prefer a career flying under the proverbial radar. But there is always something to write home about when his new music comes down the pike. 88 Butterfly, his second full outing with his CIA trio of double bassist Herwig Hammerl and drummer Martin Grabher is no exception.
Continue ReadingPeter Madsen's CIA Trio: 88 Butterfly

by Dan McClenaghan
Many jazz artists find butterflies inspiring. Pianist Herbie Hancock recorded Butterfly" for his Thrust album for Columbia Records in 1974. In 1993 guitarist Russell Malone released his Black Butterfly (Columbia Records), the title tune a rendition of a Duke Ellington/Irving Berlin composition; and the Chick Corea + Steve Gadd Band offered up the album Chinese Butterfly (Concord Music Group) in 2018. There are many more examples. Those three cited albums didn't immerse themselves in the butterfly; it was ...
Continue ReadingMichael Musillami, Peter Madsen: Pictures

by Alberto Bazzurro
Facciamo anzitutto un po' d'ordine: diciannove sono i brani complessivi di questo album; i dispari, tutti molto brevi (massimo 1'41"), sono altrettante libere improvvisazioni (nello specifico Promenades), sorta di intercapedini (nonché di prologo ed epilogo per quanto concerne le tracce 1 e 19) fra i brani pari, tutti intestati a un musicista specifico, pianisti (autore Peter Madsen) e chitarristi (autore Michael Musillami, ma confessiamo di non aver mai sentito nominare Robert Paris, né di averne trovato traccia sul web, almeno ...
Continue ReadingMichael Musillami and Peter Madsen: Pictures

by Troy Dostert
Guitarist Michael Musillami and pianist Peter Madsen have long traveled in the same circles, with Musillami's Playscape label showcasing both musicians in a number of their independently derived projects. But they don't often get to work side-by-side. Aside from Musillami's sextet record, Dachau (Playscape, 2006), the two have only appeared together previously on duo disc, Part Pitbull (Playscape, 2002). Their scintillating renewed partnership on Pictures shows the intervening years have done nothing to diminish their intuitive chemistry and first-rate technical ...
Continue ReadingPeter Madsen: Curiouser and Curiouser

by Mike Jurkovic
There are times when star ratings don't tell or can't tell the whole story. Five stars, four, three, two, billions upon billions of stars. Veteran pianist Peter Madsen's Curiouser and Curiouser is just one of those times. It's a great listen but is it an essential one? Without being too harsh, no. Is it a disc with plenty of repeat listenings in it? For many yes, for others, probably not. Sorry, but the star system isn't going to work for ...
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