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Dave Miller
Guitarist and composer Dave Miller (Greg Ward’s Rogue Parade, Dustin Laurenzi’s Snaketime, Joe Policastro Trio, Algernon, Ted Sirota’s Rebel Souls), has been a prominent fixture in the Chicago music scene for nearly two decades. His last record, Old Door Phantoms (ears&eyes Records), hailed by Audiophile Audition as “the multi-genre instrumental album of the year”, as well as “a complex and beautiful piece of work” by New City, explored themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition through the lens of an instrumental psychedelic garage rock band.
Echoes of Neil Young’s Crazy Horse and guitarist Marc Ribot continue into Miller’s new album, DAVE MILLER, though he has expanded his focus to now include detailed arrangements and more refined production techniques. With the opening of Miller’s new recording studio, Whiskey Point Recording (co-run with ace pianist/engineer, Dan Pierson (V.V. Lightbody)), Miller’s music has become even more alive and exploratory. Beautiful mellotrons collide with fuzzed out guitars over swampy drums and non-ironic bongos, as if Brian Wilson got into a bar fight with The Meters and Link Wray before realizing they were kindred spirits, with Miller composing the score. Miller’s music, above all, aims to create its own utopic universe where all the cool music coexists.
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Arman Sangalang: Waypoints
by Jack Bowers
Waypoints, the second recording by Chicago-based tenor saxophonist Arman Sangalang's quartet, continues on a path similar to his first, Arman Sangalang Quartet (Calligram, 2023), leaning on original compositions and closing with a perennially popular standard, Johnny Green's “Body & Soul." Sangalang is a splendid player, blending a strong and persuasive solo voice with precise technique and a bright and pleasing sound. His teammates are similarly adept, lending Sangalang solid and dependable support. The compositional highlight of the program ...
Continue ReadingArman Sangalang: Waypoints
by Dan McClenaghan
Saxophonist Arman Sangalang released his debut record, Quartet (Calligram Records) in 2023. It was a smoldering sax-and-a-rhythm-section quartet outing that sounded surprisingly fresh for a first recording effort. His follow-up, Waypoints, employs the same format, switching out bassist Matt Ulery for Ethan Philion, while keeping guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Devin Drobka. The sophomore effort careens toward expanded freedom, boldly. “I wanted to give them [his quartet cohorts] the freedom to do what they wanted with the music," ...
Continue ReadingBobby Sanabria: Arsenio and Beyond
by Jack Bowers
Much of the music on Arsenio and Beyond was written by the trailblazing Cuban composer Arsenio Rodriguez, a master of the mandolin-like Cuban tres guitar who is credited among other innovations with creating the musical design that became known as son montuno. Rodriguez, drummer and bandleader Bobby Sanabria writes, was “the true Father of Mambo and Son Montuno," without whom “there is no salsa, Afro-Cuban jazz, or, many would even argue, rock or funk." Sanabria and his Multiverse ...
Continue ReadingItalian Surf Academy + Denver Butson: Ennio Morricone Is Dissolving
by Alberto Bazzurro
Diciassette frammenti poetico-musicali, svarianti da mezzo minuto a poco più di tre, raccolti in forma di suite in meno di mezz'ora, è quanto ci arriva da questo cd del trio diretto dal chitarrista napoletano Marco Cappelli, di fatto newyorchese d'adozione, abbinato alla recitazione di Denver Butson, autore del poema del titolo, spalmato su alcune delle tracce del lavoro. Diciamo subito che, come non di rado accade in contesti del genere, l'interazione fra le due componenti in gioco ...
Continue ReadingGustavo Cortiñas: The Crisis Knows No Borders
by Hrayr Attarian
Drummer Gustavo Cortinas is one of Chicago's most imaginative and exciting composers. This is not solely due to his brilliant creativity but also because he explores socially aware and relevant themes. He has honed a unique style that is easily recognizable as his own. His sixth release as a leader, the superb The Crisis Knows No Border, is about the impact of human-made climate change. Cortinas leads his quartet through the 10 provocative and richly-textured, interlinked originals ...
Continue ReadingChris Varga: Breathe
by Jack Bowers
It is always refreshing to hear a talented vibraphonist seducing the mallets while leading a band, as is true on Breathe, Chris Varga's second recording, and the first in the U.S., following 2023's Vichara on South Korea's Mung Music label. Varga, who has been living and performing in Seoul for more than two decades, returned “home" to Chicago in 2024 and recruited four able-bodied sidemen to record eight of his largely hermetic yet lavishly bedecked compositions and arrangements.
Continue ReadingChris Varga: Breathe
by Dan McClenaghan
Setting up shop as a jazz artist in Seoul, South Korea, is probably not the recommended way of raising the profile in the United States. But vibraphonist Chris Varga, who worked the jazz scene in Chicago during the '90s, made that trans-Pacific move and set himself up as a busy and prolific player in Korea's vibrant jazz scene. Coming back stateside for an extended stay in 2024, Varga took advantage of the opportunity to put together a quintet ...
Continue ReadingSten Hostfalt Trio featuring Dave Miller, Blaise Siwula Live at National Underground (NYC) May 21, 2011
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Sten Hostfalt
Celebrating the two Spring 2011 Sonus Rex NYC CD releases Now Matter and Moneytown Sonus Rex NYC proudly presents Sten Hostfalt Trio featuring Dave Miller and Blaise Siwula in concert at National Underground, Saturday May 21 2011. National Underground 159 E Houston Street New York NY 10002 9pm / $11 Dave Miller—drums Blaise Siwula—alto/tenor saxophone Sten Hostfalt—guitar Award-Winning, critically acclaimed guitar virtuoso phenom, composer and bandleader Sten Hostfalt's unique original artistry carries ...
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"Dave Miller has made a record in the tradition of guitar records that sound best coming out of a juke box, the sound of some shit about to go down, maybe bad, but maybe... maybe amazing. You casually make sure your passport is still in your pocket.
You might be in a desert motel or in the middle of São Paulo, either way, keep an eye on the door."
- Jeremy Ylvisaker (Andrew Bird, Bon Iver, John Prine, Bruce Hornsby)
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Music
Deep Moraine
From: Dave MillerBy Dave Miller
Marshmallow (Warne Marsh)
From: FeatheryBy Dave Miller
Starry-Eyed
From: FeatheryBy Dave Miller
Marshmallow
From: FeatheryBy Dave Miller
