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Ken Fowser, Something Blue, Devin Gray and More
by Bob Osborne
A packed show with excellent new releases on Posi-tone from Ken Fowser and Something Blue, a focus on Devin Gray, recent work from Wolfgang Muthspiel plus archive cuts. Playlist Something Blue “Slick" from Maximum Enjoyment (Posi-tone) 00:00 Ken Fowser “Stand Clear of the Closing Doors" from Right On Time (Posi-tone) 06:36 Devin Gray “Prospect Park in the Dark" from Dirigo Rataplan (Skirl) 11:18 Nick Mazzarella Trio “Boarding Pass" from This Is Only a Test, Live at the ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes
by Mike Jurkovic
The inventiveness that Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel displayed on 2016's Rising Grace (ECM) is on display once more on Where The River Goes--again made with an American quartet, this time comprising pianist Brad Mehldau, trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Eric Harland (who replaces Rising Grace's Brian Blade). Where The River Goes is a less introspective disc than its predecessor, with more in the moment improv between the players. “Descendants" begins somberly with its billowing guitar ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes
by Matt Hooke
A song titled “For Django" would usually feature a hard-swinging gypsy rhythm and rapid-fire guitar lines. Guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel goes in the opposite direction, with a thoughtful mid-tempo piece that places pianist Brad Mehldau and trumpet player Ambrose Akinmusire in the starring role more than himself. “For Django," despite being the second track, sets the tone for much of Where the River Goes, Muthspiel's forty-first album. The musicians play off each other like a great soccer team, with ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel: Where The River Goes
by Mark Sullivan
Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel returns with the same lyrical magic that characterized his previous quintet recording Rising Grace (ECM, 2016). That quintet--with trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, pianist Brad Mehldau and bassist Larry Grenadier--is altered only by the substitution of drummer Eric Harland for Brian Blade. Muthspiel begins the title tune unaccompanied on electric guitar, with Mehldau joining in on piano for a brief duet. Akinmusire's playing of the theme cues the rest of the band to join in. As ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel Quintet alla Casa del Jazz di Roma
by Mario Calvitti
Wolfgang Muthspiel Quintet Summertime 2017 Casa del Jazz Roma 13.07.2017 Unica data italiana a Roma per il quintetto del chitarrista austriaco Wolfgang Muthspiel nel corso del recente tour europeo. Il musicista ha proposto i brani del suo ultimo album Rising Grace, pubblicato dalla ECM alla fine dello scorso anno. Della formazione all-star che lo ha inciso è presente solo il contrabbassista Larry Grenadier, mentre il pianista Brad Mehldau, il trombettista Ambrose Akinmusire e il ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel: Rising Grace
by Mark Sullivan
Austrian guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel made a big splash early in his career, playing with vibraphonist Gary Burton and recording for PolyGram Records (including 1990's The Promise, produced by Burton). Since founding his own label Material Records in 2000 he has had a somewhat lower profile, although in addition to a number of his projects the label released From A Dream (2009), the stunning debut of the cooperative trio MGT (with fellow guitarists Slava Grigoryan and Ralph Towner). Muthspiel made his ...
Continue ReadingWolfgang Muthspiel: Driftwood
by John Kelman
Since studying at Berklee College of Music and returning to his home in Austria--though not before releasing a number of American-based recordings either on his own or as a member of bands led by people like Gary Burton, Marc Johnson and Patricia Barber--guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel has largely been focusing on his career through Material Records, the label he founded at the turn of the millennium. And while he's released no shortage of fine recordings for the label--including both studio and ...
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