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Jazz Articles about Tom Rainey
Nels Cline: Consentrik Quartet
by Don Ball
While Nels Cline has been playing the guitar-hero rock star for the past two decades with Wilco, he continues to release his own solo recordings under various names (including the Nels Cline 4 and the Nels Cline Singers, which, amusingly, contain no vocalists) tailored toward the avant-garde side of jazz (with the notable exception of his lush, lovely jazz orchestra Blue Note release from 2016, Lovers). His 2025 release, Consentrik Quartet, brings together some of the finest jazz musicians working ...
Continue ReadingTim Berne - Tom Rainey - Gregg Belisle-Chi: Yikes Too
by Glenn Astarita
Tim Berne's Yikes Too marks a significant expansion of the saxophonist's artistic vision, unfolding across two discs that showcase both his compositional architecture and improvisational dexterity. Berne joins forces with drummer Tom Rainey and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi--a Bill Frisell protégé--to form a new trio that navigates intellectual complexity and gut-level musical communication with equal fluency. The studio sessions at Firehouse 12 yield ten compositions where Berne's characteristic dark alto tone weaves through mathematical labyrinths of sound. Standouts “Oddly ...
Continue ReadingMichael Attias: Quartet Music Vol I: LuMiSong & Vol II: Kardamon Fall
by John Sharpe
Saxophonist Michaël Attias has impressed on the NYC scene for over three decades. He has recorded with Paul Motian, Anthony Braxton and Taylor Ho Bynum, while artists like Eric Revis, Anthony Coleman and Kris Davis have covered his compositions. But despite such recognition, Attias's discography undeservedly languishes in single figures. His decision to issue two volumes of quartet music, Lumisong and Kardamon Fall, available separately or together in a single package, represents the next step in his evolution ...
Continue ReadingIvo Perelman Quartet: Water Music
by Alberto Bazzurro
Un free piuttosto spinto apre questo CD inciso ormai due anni or sono (novembre 2022) da un quartetto coi controfiocchi, in grado di cacciarsi a capofitto nella tenaglia dell'improvvisazione senza rete con la quasi certezza di venirne fuori brillantemente. E' quanto gli otto brani su cui la sfida si sdipana ci confermano a chiare lettere, con l'iperpresenzialismo tante volte dimostrato da Ivo Perelman (nel singolo album ma anche con l'elefantiaca, scriteriata produzione di qualche anno fa) che sa farsi invece ...
Continue ReadingIngrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey: Brink
by Mark Corroto
Could there be a more intimate sound than that of Brink? The saxophone/drums recording by reedist Ingrid Laubrock and percussionist Tom Rainey is as personal as it gets between two working jazz improvisers. The reason may be that Laubrock and Rainey are not just partners in music, but also life partners. Rainey is one of the most in-demand drummers working today. He can be heard in bands led by Ivo Perelman, Tim Berne, Tony Malaby, and Fay Victor. He also ...
Continue ReadingIvo Perelman Quartet: Water Music
by John Sharpe
New and old converge on Water Music. Tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman showcases a quartet with longstanding partner Matthew Shipp on piano together with the fresh rhythm axis of bassist Mark Helias and drummer Tom Rainey. Although they have not played with Perelman before, they are not exactly Johnny-come-latelys. Both have achieved veteran status, not only individually, but also as a team, exemplified by Rainey having fuelled Helias' mighty Open Loose trio since its inception back in the late 1990s.
Continue ReadingLucian Ban, Mat Maneri: Oedipe Redux
by Neri Pollastri
Pur se da venticinque anni residente negli U.S.A., il pianista Lucian Ban non ha mai smesso di coltivare le sue radici rumene, che spesso anzi caratterizzano sottilmente la sua prolifica produzione artistica. In particolare, assieme al violista Mat Maneri --con il quale collabora assai spesso, contribuendo recentemente al suo album Ash --ha più volte proposto apprezzati lavori ispirati alla tradizione popolare rumena (Transilvanian Dance (ECM 2013), Transilvanian Folk Songs (Sunnyside 2020), mentre già nel 2010 aveva presentato sempre per Sunnyside ...
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