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Joseph Benzola, Liebman/Rudolph/Drake, Tom Kessler and More
Canadian saxophonist and flautist Anna Webber has seen her star rising since settling in New York. She's become a highly regarded member of the creative improvisation scene there, and each recording of her own compositions becomes more impressive. With her septet she tackles a number of homages to some of her favourite 20th century composers' percussion works. Clockwise is definitely a best-of-year caliber CD. Another composer, one who terms his works “solo language" is on the show this episode--multi-instrumentalist Joseph ...
read moreGregor Huebner, Alexandra Grimal and a focus on Anna Webber
Stunning new Cuban Jazz with a political message from Gregor Huebner, exciting new sounds from Alexandra Grimal and a focus on the work of Anna Webber dominate a show of mixed styles and emotions. Playlist Gregor Huebner “Equinox" from El Violin Latino Vol. 3 : Los Soñadores (Zoho) 00:00 Alexandra Grimal “Meltemi" from Naga (Ovni Records) 06:38 Eave “Denver Bob" from Eave (Astral Spirits) 18:10 Erik Hove Chamber Ensemble “Fractured" from Polygon (Inner Circle Music) 22:43 Evan ...
read moreAnna Webber: Clockwise
Although she's a horn player by trade, Anna Webber has always had a fascination with percussion as a basis for her idiosyncratic compositions. With pieces that build in complexity, with rhythms that are continuously reformulated, Webber produces music where a groove is usually present, yet it's typically filtered and recontextualized in surprising ways. Fortunately she's had terrific percussionists over the years--especially John Hollenbeck, who has played on her superb trio recordings with pianist Matt Mitchell, most recently on 2016's Binary ...
read moreAnna Webber's Simple Trio with Matt Mitchell & John Hollenbeck: Binary
If there were a prize for avoiding the obvious, then Brooklyn-based Canadian saxophonist and flautist Anna Webber would be a prime contender. In an effort to take the road less travelled, Webber has used internet-sourced inspiration, including a random binary digit generator, a website that turns words into drumbeats, and even her own IP address, to develop the 11 compositions on Binary, the sophomore outing from her Simple Trio. In a line up unchanged since their eponymous ...
read moreAnna Webber's Simple Trio with Matt Mitchell & John Hollenbeck: Binary
One of a growing number of genre-crushing young artists working at the fringes of modern jazz and so-called “new music," Canadian-born saxophonist and composer Anna Webber has staked out some truly distinctive musical terrain with her all-star Simple Trio. If you're not familiar with Ms. Webber (who's worked with Dan Weiss, Jen Shyu, Ohad Talmor and classical composer John Luther Adams to name a few), you will certainly recognize her Simple Trio-mates: John Hollenbeck and Matt Mitchell. Kindred spirits in ...
read moreAnna Webber's Simple Trio with Matt Mitchell & John Hollenbeck: Binary
Canadian native, now a Brooklyn resident, Anna Webber, has a broad, international music education having studied at McGill University in Montreal, Manhattan School of Music and the Jazz Institute of Berlin. In the latter two cases she has received Master's degrees to accompany the substantial number of grants and awards that speak to her compositional ability. She has recorded three previous albums as a leader and with Binary, the saxophonist/flautist/composer returns with her “Simple Trio" of pianist Matt Mitchell and ...
read moreAnna Webber's Percussive Mechanics: Refraction
Percussive Mechanics seems to be a fitting moniker for New York City- based saxophonist, composer Anna Webber's band, since the core building blocks of her intricately fabricated compositions are huddled within knotty flows and odd-metered rhythms. She doesn't operate within a narrow modus operandi, as each piece poses variable persuasions. A rising star in the avant-jazz community, Webber's group-centric focus and compositional acumen radiates here on her second album for Pirouet Records. Featuring a horde of changeable pulses and atmospherics, ...
read moreAnna Webber: Simple
If things aren't just right, listening to complicated music can be like doing your taxes. There has to be chemistry, there has to be a narrative, and--even though you don't know what's coming next--the music's got to be on. The players have to be free to speak in a new language; often one divorced from the world of spang-a-lang and rhythm changes. This is the case on Anna Webber's new recording, Simple. Don't let the title fool you! Ms. Webber, ...
read moreAnna Webber: Simple
Simple (Skirl 2014) , New York based composer/saxophonist Anna Webber's follow up to her 2013 release “Percussive Mechanics (Pirouet 2013) finds her exploring the expressive capabilities of a trio setting. While the compositional sensibilities introduced in her first album remain, her affinity for polyrhythms being a good example, the new texture provides her the ability to play with more freedom and subtle intricacy alongside her tight arrangements. Of course, her phenomenal bandmates contribute a lot in this respect.
read moreAnna Webber: Percussive Mechanics
First she was a flutist, then a saxophonist, now an outstanding jazz and new music composer. Canada's Anna Webber follows up her debut, Third Floor People (Nowt Records, 2010), with Percussive Mechanics, a skirmish between contemporary composed music and jazz improvisation.As a player, she has recorded with Stephon Harris's Blackout--Urbanus (Concord, 2009)--and has also performed with Jason Moran, Tony Malaby, and John Hollenbeck. It is Hollenbeck that is the touchstone for her compositions here. Webber plays with the ...
read moreAnna Webber: Third Floor People
Those who stand up and give the finger to the status quo must be honored. New York saxophonist/flautist Anna Webber does exactly that, with a recording that brags not one, but two bass-less quartets. Third Floor People is a collection of 11 original compositions by Webber, employing two quartets--one from Montreal and one from New York City. The structure of the quartets are both drums and guitar, with either alto saxophone (Montreal People) or trumpet (New York People).
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