Jazz Articles about Joel Vanderheyden

Joel Vanderheyden: Complete Life

by Glenn Astarita
September 23, 2009

Iowa-based saxophonist and educator Joel Vanderheyden assimilates various genres into a distinct group sound, performing with members of the underground jazz group known as Koplant_No on his debut release. Complete with jazz-fusion and jazz-rock overtones, spiced with loops, samples and effects, the program projects a modicum of diversity and jazz-framed exploration. It all makes for a cunning series of polytonal movements and settings.

The ensemble's blustery and at times, hard-hitting work-ethic is devised on popping backbeats, synth driven ...