Kris T Reeder: Jazz Mix 12

British trombonist and sound designer KT Reeder's Jazz Mix 12 does not make for easy listening and nor, presumably, is it meant to. It is, however, strangely compelling, as is the music of any artist who has rejected compromise and commerciality regardless of the financial consequences. Such courageous souls are determined to pursue their muse, and more power to them.

Reeder makes music that could be described as noise jazz. He plays his apparently in the moment trombone lines, which are free of much melodic or harmonic development, over a skeletal electronic backing track which sounds like the sort of insistent but indistinct noise which comes through a party wall if you have an inconsiderate neighbour, or if there is a car parked up in the street with its windows closed and the volume and bass controls turned up to eleven. Reeder intends it to sound like that: he studied composition and performance at London's Royal Academy of Music and Oxford's Oxford Brookes University. He knows what he is doing.

Reeder has been recording since around 2012, mainly self releasing on his own EAF and ELR labels. He shows no sign of mellowing and one has to admire his dogged singlemindedness. Whether you enjoy his music is another matter. You can be certain that conservatives all over the world will hate every nano second they hear and for that reason alone Reeder deserves to be given a hearing. You may enjoy the experience, and if you do not, you could still go the distance with Jazz Mix 12, because it only lasts 27 minutes.

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