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ALBUM REVIEWS July 18, 2017

Clark Sommers Lens: By A Thread

Read "By A Thread" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan

Bassist Clark Sommers served up a terrific trio outing in 2013 with Ba(sh) (Origin Record), a teaming with his fellow Chicagoans, reedman Geof Bradfield and drummer Dana Hall. He expands the ensemble to a quintet for By A Thread. Tenorist (mostly, he also adds his bass clarinet to the sound) Geof Bradfield is back, in what amounts to, in part, a reimagination of the organ jazz genre. The By A Thread band is headed up by a bassist; ...

ALBUM REVIEWS September 23, 2013

Clark Sommers: Ba(SH)

By Dan McClenaghan

There's something quite “free" about a trio without a guitar or piano in the mix, with no chords nailing the sound down. Seattle's Origin Records has a history of offering up excellent saxophone/bass/drums outings: bassist Jeff Johnson's Near Earth (2004) and Free (2000), and drummer John Bishop's Nothing If Not Something (2006). Now three veterans of the Chicago jazz scene have teamed up under bassist Clark Sommers' leader baton for an organic sounding outing. Enlisting saxophonist Geof Bradfield ...