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Ches Smith
Smith has performed with Good For Cows, Marc Ribot, Theory of Ruin, Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Xiu Xiu, Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant, Carla Bozulich, Beat Circus, Sean Hayes, Ben Goldberg, 7 Year Rabbit Cycle, Ara Anderson and Fred Frith.
He has also recorded and performed a full-length album of his own solo percussion pieces entitled Congs For Brums (2006). In 2010 he released Congs for Brums 'Noise to Men'.
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Ches Smith: Clone Row
by Glenn Astarita
Ches Smith, the San Diego-born Sacramento-raised drummer who studied philosophy at the University of Oregon before diving headfirst into the Bay Area's experimental music scene, has long been one of modern jazz's most restless spirits. His deep resume includes work with Marc Ribot, Tim Berne, John Zorn, Mary Halvorson and Nels Cline, cementing his reputation as a first-call rhythmic architect for the avant-garde and progressive jazz. Following his acclaimed ten-piece ensemble album Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic, 2024), Smith took a bold ...
Continue ReadingMyra Melford: Splash
by John Sharpe
Pianist Myra Melford returns to the classic piano trio format for the first time since The Guest House (Enja, 2011), her acclaimed outing with Trio M with Mark Dresser and Matt Wilson. This time, the lineup is no less formidable: bassist Michael Formanek and drummer/vibraphonist Ches Smith--both commanding improvisers and bandleaders--join her for a set that reaffirms the trio as a site for invention rather than formula. As with her 2022 quintet project For the Love of Fire ...
Continue ReadingChes Smith: Clone Row
by Vic Albani
Giù il cappello ancora una volta. Ches Smith è davvero un meraviglioso esempio di intelligenza e--dopo il bellissimo capolavoro dedicato al Voodoo (Path of Seven Colors) pubblicato con Pyroclastic nel 2021, ma anche Laugh Ash del 2024--tira fuori dal cappello un'altra meraviglia affrontando un'autentica destrutturazione di un super quartetto con tanto di due chitarre (Mary Halvorson, regina del canale destro, e Liberty Ellman, protagonista di quello sinistro) e Nick Dunston (basso ed elettronica). Nelle spettacolari note a ...
Continue ReadingChes Smith, Ivo Perelman, Leif Berger & Dan Phillips
by Maurice Hogue
Music coming from all directions in this edition of One Man's Jazz. Drummer Ches Smith is a true chameleon these days; every album has a different theme or direction or a different band. On his new Clone Row he turns to the twin guitars of Mary Halvorson and Liberty Ellman to stir the pot. Saxophonist Ivo Perelman seems to be releasing albums at a rapid clip, so no surprise then that he's making all of his releases for Leo Records ...
Continue ReadingChes Smith, Enemy, Matt Ulery, Russ Johnson & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
"Looking back to look forward" could be the motto of this playlist. It kicks off with a blaxploitation tinged scorcher of a song from an upcoming Charles Kynard re-release, followed by a live performance in which Enemy (Kit Downes, Petter Eldh, James Maddren) celebrate a decade of music-making. Also included, an unearthed gem featuring a 2009 session by Russ Johnson, Christian Weber, Dieter Ulrich, and albums that mark new directions in the work of Matt Ulery, Ches Smith and Dan ...
Continue ReadingJason Robinson: Ancestral Numbers
by Vincenzo Roggero
Unica seduta di registrazione dal 23 al 25 agosto 2023, due CD, Ancestral Numbers I e Ancestral Numbers II, usciti a qualche mese di distanza, stessa fonte di ispirazione--il ricordo della nonna materna e la sua influenza nella famiglia--stessa ricerca di relazioni tra numeri, genealogie e storie dettate dallo scorrere del tempo. È questa la prima parte di un progetto musicale pensato da Jason Robinson nel quale una serie di composizioni sarà pensata per appositi organici strumentali. Sassofonista e flautista ...
Continue ReadingErik Friedlander: Dirty Boxing / Floating City
by Vic Albani
Ironico come sempre, Erik Friedlander torna sul mercato con un singolare nuovo lavoro intitolato Dirty Boxing dedicato al crudo vocabolario delle arti marziali miste (!!!) con tanto di guantoni da boxe in copertina. Il gioco è quello di esplorare gli imprevisti parallelismi tra la disciplina artistica della musica e il combattimento strategico delle arti marziali. Il violoncellista newyorkese, come al solito molto intelligente ed attento, si circonda della bellezza musicale di Uri Caine al pianoforte, Mark Helias al ...
Continue ReadingChes Smith with Craig Taborn and Mat Maneri release "The Bell" on ECM Records
Source:
Michael Ricci
Ches Smith: drums, vibraphone, timpani; Craig Taborn: piano; Mat Maneri: viola The Bell features dynamic chamber music compositions written for masterful improvisers. “The best thing I caught all weekend,” said critic Peter Margasak of the 2014 New York Winter Jazzfest, “was a superb trio led by drummer Ches Smith with pianist Craig Taborn and violist Mat Maneri, which expertly infused seductively narcotic writing with a mixture of brooding melody and rich texture.” Since that NY debut, the trio has become ...
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Interview: Ches Smith
Source:
Ars Nova Workshop
Since finishing his studies at the prestigious Mills College, percussionist Ches Smith has worked across jazz, rock, and experimental categories, proving to be a versatile artist ready for any challenge. Over the years he has worked with Xiu Xiu, John Zorn, Wadada Leo Smith, John Tchicai, Marc Ribot, Fred Frith, Tim Berne, Terry Riley, and many others. He has appeared on over 30 recordings, the most recent being Finally Out Of My Hands with his These Arches ensemble featuring Mary ...
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Ches Smith and These Arches - Finally out of My Hands (Skirl, 2010)
Source:
Music and More by Tim Niland
Drummer Ches Smith leads a very exciting and diverse band on this short but frequently thrilling album. Based on the idea of building bridges and connections between musicians and between composition and improvisation, the group consisting of Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone, Mary Halvorson on guitar, Andrea Parkins on accordion, organ and electronics and Smith on drums develops a very exciting and dynamic conception of music. “Anxiety Disorder" opens the album in a strong and fast fashion with guitar, bass ...
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Photos
Music
Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson
Sweet Tooth
From: Ancestral Numbers IIBy Ches Smith
Second House
From: Ancestral Numbers IBy Ches Smith
Secours Meurtriers
From: SéancesBy Ches Smith
Interpret It Well
From: Interpret It WellBy Ches Smith
Entity
From: EntityBy Ches Smith
