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Frank Gratkowski, Simon Nabatov: Tender Mercies
by John Sharpe
This collection of seven duets from pianist Simon Nabatov and reedman Frank Gratkowski stands as one of those times when the late Misha Mengelberg's term instant composition" for a series of seat-of-the-pants encounters makes absolute sense. Perhaps that should not be a surprise, considering the protagonists histories and shared base in the German city of Cologne. Indeed, their association dates back to at least 1999, when the reedman appeared as part of a quartet on Nabatov's Nature ...
read moreFrank Gratkowski, Achim Kaufmann, Wilbert de Joode, Tony Buck: Flatbosc & Cautery
by John Sharpe
Adding a new member to a long-established group sometimes reinforces the chemistry, at other times it transforms. With the threesome of reedman Frank Gratkowski, pianist Achim Kaufmann and bassist Wilbert de Joode, a unit since 2002, the co-option of Necks drummer Tony Buck propels the outfit more explicitly towards the high-energy end of the free spectrum, compared with previous outings such as palaë (Leo, 2007) and oblengths (Leo, 2016). Recorded in concert in Koln, in May 2018, ...
read moreGratkowski, Nabatov, Mahnig: Dance Hall Stories
by Angelo Leonardi
Il titolo e la foto di copertina sono allusivi e non vanno presi alla lettera. Il pianista Simon Nabatov e il sassofonista Frank Gratkowski non hanno deciso di abbandonare la libera improvvisazione per un omaggio al repertorio da ballo ma includono nella collaborazione il giovane batterista Dominik Mahnig, che si aggiunge in metà dei brani del disco. Anche se pubblicata nel 2020 la registrazione risale a una session in studio (a Colonia) di tre anni prima. A ...
read moreSimon Nabatov: Time Labyrinth
by Angelo Leonardi
Registrato il 17 aprile 2019 a Colonia, Time Labyrinth" è la prima parte di un progetto di Simon Nabatov denominato Changing Perspectives, che sarà completato nel prossimo futuro. Il pianista e compositore di origine russa vive nella città tedesca da quasi tre decenni ed è una figura di primo piano nell'universo della musica improvvisata europea ai confini tra jazz d'avanguardia e musica classica contemporanea. Le sei composizioni che costituiscono l'opera si collocano decisamente nell'ambito della musica ...
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by Glenn Astarita
Pianist Simon Nabatov is well-known for his explosive semi-structured presentations and freely navigated improvisational advances within this seemingly limitless musical space. But Nabatov is a composer who often stretches the perceived limits of avant-garde jazz. With this effort, he pursues a largely new approach by employing chamberesque forums via an acoustic-electric platform, intensified by consummate woodwind aces Frank Gratkowski, Matthias Schubert and other stalwarts to round out a drummer-less Germany-based septet. In the liners, the leader states that ...
read moreZ-Country Paradise: Live in Lisbon
by Glenn Astarita
The multinational quintet revs up the audience on this wild and scruffy excursion that skirts a misty demarcation between punk jazz and avant-garde improvisation along with off-kilter jazz rock tendencies. Vocalist Jelena Kuljic's guileful and emotive iterations instill hip, Beat Generation-like narratives in concert with the band's jarring and edgy grooves via some recoiling breakouts and oscillating storylines. Indeed, the formidable frontline of esteemed reedman, Frank Gratkowski--a longtime Leo Records artist--and ace guitarist Kalle Kalima infuse their distinct ...
read moreFrank Gratkowski, Sebi Tramontana: Live at Španski Borci
by Vic Albani
So perfettamente di scoprire l'acqua calda con la seguente affermazione, ma credo sia comunque ricordare come--nell'universo della musica contemporanea -in un momento in cui la cosiddetta creatività sembra mancare o essersi esaurita almeno in uno dei suo filoni essenziali, chi continua diritto per la propria strada non sembra minimamente risentire del non-interesse che avvolge in toto ormai da tempo il mondo del suono moderno. Anche per questo non c'è da stupirsi se i coraggiosi della Leo Records in terra d'Albione, ...
read moreNew Release Red Toucan: "Ardent Grass" by Jacob Anderskov and Frank Gratkowski
Source:
Passaretti
Here's the brand new release from Red Toucan Records: Ardent Grass (RT 9340) Jacob Anderskov: piano Frank Gratkowski: alto sax, clarinet, bass clarinet Every Red Toucan aficionado knows Frank Gratkowski, a regular on the label; here, he pairs with brilliant Danish pianist Jacob Anderskov. Over the last decade or so, pianist Jacob Anderskov has emerged as one of the most exciting and original voices... deeply modern..." Peter Margasak, Downbeat Enjoy our last release for 2010!
Red ...
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Free Jazz Reedman Frank Gratkowski Interviewed at AAJ
Source:
All About Jazz
Virtuoso German reed specialist Frank Gratkowski enjoys a particularly fertile range of collaborations, settings and directional thrusts. He was back in New York in October, 2009 with a trio that has released three albums during the last six years: Kwast (Konnex, 2004), Unearth (Nuscope, 2005) and Palaë (Leo, 2006). Appearing at Roulette, Gratkowski was joined by pianist Achim Kaufmann and bassist Wilbert De Joode, both of whom hail from the Netherlands. The gig is billed as a session of improvised ...
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