Jazz Articles about Thomson Kneeland

Thomson Kneeland: Mazurka For A Modern Man

by Jerry D'Souza
October 15, 2010

Thomson Kneeland makes a creative surge on Mazurka For A Common Man, with wide-ranging music that captures the bassist's skills as a writer--a trait in evidence right from his first CD, The Voice of Blood (Weltschmerz Records, 2001). He went on to record three more albums with his band, Kakalla--documenting, in tandem, Kneeland's ability to write for a quartet/quintet lineup in several idioms and his skills as a bassist. Kakalla was his band for eight years before, Kneeland moved to ...

Thomson Kneeland: Mazurka For A Modern Man

by Bruce Lindsay
June 5, 2010

Bassist Thomson Kneeland leads an impressive array of musicians on Mazurka For A Modern Man. It's a strong collection of tunes, characterised by Kneeland's lively bass rhythms and by the gorgeous melodies that emanate from David Smith's trumpet and Nate Radley's guitar. Kneeland's liner notes make it clear that this album is dedicated to his band mate and friend, the drummer Take Toriyama, who took his own life barely 2 weeks after recording was completed in 2007. ...

Thomson Kneeland: Mazurka for the Modern Man

by Woodrow Wilkins
May 16, 2010

It is unfortunate when a person dies prematurely, and even more so when the death is by suicide. It makes for a bittersweet experience when listening to Mazurka for a Modern Man, by acoustic bassist Thomson Kneeland. Drummer Take Toriyama had been working with Kneeland almost weekly for ten years. He ended his life two weeks after recording the songs on this release. For Kneeland, the tragedy was immeasurable.

The core group on the recording consists of Kneeland, Toriyama, guitarist ...

Thomson Kneeland: Mazurka For A Modern Man

by Dan Bilawsky
April 12, 2010

It wouldn't be unusual to think that the mastermind behind Mazurka For A Modern Man played trumpet or guitar. While bassist Thomson Kneeland wrote eight of these compositions, which touch on everything from Balkan folk music and klezmer, to chamber music and indie rock, he often lurks in the background while guitarist Nate Radley and trumpeter David Smith paint intriguing pictures and create a deep, and occasionally dark, musical universe in the foreground. Kneeland, as demonstrated throughout this album, is ...

Take Five With Thomson Kneeland

by AAJ Staff
May 13, 2007

Meet Thomson Kneeland: Double bassist Thomson Kneeland moved to New York four years ago to free himself from the musical doldrums of New England. He has performed on over thirty albums and has released three self-produced projects on his label Weltschmerz Records, the latest being Kakalla's The Seeds of Analog Rebellion. He tours internationally with Lynne Arriale and regularly works with the likes of Ted Rosenthal, Matana Roberts, Hal Crook, Indian music group Natraj, and more. A month generally finds ...