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Patricia Brennan: Of the Near and Far
by Mike Jurkovic
Peerless, vibe-savvy vibraphonist Patricia Brennan minces no fools from the get go, launching Of The Near And Far with the kick-ass lead single (singles? They still make singles? In this day? In this age?) “Antilla." A new jazz standard by any stretch of the imagination, “Antilla" is a sleek, hypnotic beauty that gears you into the groove and holds you there. It is the first yin to the yang of Of The Near And Far. On the heels of ...
Continue ReadingPatricia Brennan: Of the Near and Far
by Troy Dostert
Not one to rest on her laurels, vibraphonist/marimbist Patricia Brennan has continued to challenge herself and her listeners with each stop in the studio. Her tireless dedication to her craft is undoubtedly one of the reasons for her meteoric rise in the creative jazz community, which could be charted particularly after 2021 when she released her propitious solo disc, Maquishti (Valley of Search) . Since then she has had barely a moment's pause, with More Touch (Pyroclastic) coming in 2022 ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier: Angel Falls
by Mike Jurkovic
The history of humankind resounds with the sound of piano/trumpet duets. But not like this one. Not like Angel Falls. Because the true beauty of Angel Falls is that grandmaster Wadada Leo Smith, aided and abetted by the fervent curiosity of Brooklyn- based/Switzerland native pianist Sylvie Courvoisier, enlists the listener as an active creator in truly beatific, beautiful music. That is a magic thing that does not happen often. All too often, the audience is reduced to listening ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier and Wadada Leo Smith: Angel Falls
by Jack Kenny
Wadada Leo Smith describes his music not as “jazz" but as “creative music." He rejects the term “improvisation" in favor of “creation." These specific word choices reflect his unique approach, which is deeply rooted in his early experiences with blues and R&B. Smith uses the full range of his instrument and plays at his own pace, with a profound understanding of the power of silence and space. For him, space is as important as the notes themselves, allowing ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier & Wadada Leo Smith, Led Bib. Russ Lossing & Zack Lober
by Maurice Hogue
An episode filled with enticing new releases, highlighted by the musical union of pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and trumpet master Wadada Leo Smth. Look for Angel Falls on end-of-year best-of lists. England's rowdy Led Bib is back as a quartet, while pianist Russ Lossing continues his string of excellent trio releases, this time in the company of bassist Mark Helias and drummer Eric McPherson. There's a taste of pure avant-garde from Havana, Cuba in Against The Jazz Police by bass clarinetist ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson: Bone Bells
by Vincenzo Roggero
Tra i massimi interpreti dei rispettivi strumenti, Sylvie Courvoisier e Mary Halvorson sono le punte di diamante di due generazioni che si incontrano sul terreno comune dell'improvvisazione, del minimalismo sonoro, del prevalere delle idee sulle esibizionismo celebrativo. A partire dalla confezione dell'album, privo di note di copertina, ma arricchito da una grafica (opera di Miles Okazaki) a metà strada tra graffiti art e neoespressionismo alla Jean-Michel Basquiat, con la pudica concessione di una foto a colori delle ...
Continue ReadingSylvie Courvoisier Mary Halvorson: Bone Bells
by Mike Jurkovic
Guitarist and sound-chaser Mary Halvorsonnever fails to hypnotize. Add the equally hypnotic pianist Sylvie Courvoisier and beauties like Bone Bells materialize to shift your news-exhausted consciousness to greater possibilities. Bone Bells does that. Bone Bells does it often. Once again each woman is determined to investigate every tangent of the sonic atmosphere. Willfully and excitedly breaks down the margins of contemporary chamber and avant-garde, Courvoisier (who gets along rather well with many musical mavericks, notably Wadada Leo Smith ...
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