Jazz Articles about Stefan Hegerat

About Stefan Hegerat

Catching Up With

Stefan Hegerat's Bet Against Algorithmic Music

by Lawrence Peryer
June 1, 2025

Stefan Hegerat reached his breaking point with Spotify. Last year, the Toronto drummer and composer made a decision that's becoming more common among independent musicians: he began the process of removing his music from the streaming giant. “I recently read Liz Pelly's book about the evolution of Spotify and that really sealed the deal for me," Hegerat says, referring to the journalist's critique Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist (Simon & ...

Album Review

Dr. Purgatory: The Consumption: A Tragic Folkale in Six Parts

Read "The Consumption: A Tragic Folkale in Six Parts" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
April 22, 2025

Guitarist David Riddel}, aka Dr. Purgatory mixes up the influences of Dutch guitarist Reinier Baas, Maurice Ravel and Bjork and more. Everything I compose is essentially influenced by her (Bjork's) 2001 album <em>Vespertine</em> (Elektra)," Riddel says. Under those influences, he has produced a futuristic, chamber jazz, {{m: Herbie Hancock-esque fantasy soundtrack of sorts with The Consumption: A Tragic Folk Tale In Six Parts. His septet, featuring his guitars, two reed players, a violin, piano, bass, and drums, makes ...

Album Review

Triio: Six-ish Plateaus

Read "Six-ish Plateaus" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

by Dan McClenaghan
September 27, 2022

Canadian bassist Alex Fournier takes inspiration from some of the best, most notably bassist/cellist/composer Andrew Downing and bassist/composer Michael Formanek. Both of these mentors sit outside the mainstream, but not far off, within spitting distance we might say. Six-ish Plateaus, by Fournier's Triio—which is not a trio but rather a sextet--explores the hybrid of written material and energized freedom with two reeds, guitar and vibraphone, drums and bass line-up. Distinction of sound is a key here. The ...