Jazz Articles about The Flatlands Collective

The Flatlands Collective: Gnomade

by Mark Corroto
September 30, 2007

The Flatlands Collective is a small big band in the Chicago tradition of various Ken Vandermark ensembles. Its leader, saxophonist Jorrit Dijkstra is Dutch, which confuses the clear picture, in that this music is at times more folkishly American than American music.

But then again, this whole Chicago revival of jazz has had deep European roots.

The saxophonist builds this ensemble around Chicago players clarinetist James Falzone, trombonist Jeb Bishop (formerly of the Vandermark 5), Fred ...