Jazz Articles

Asaf Sirkis Trio: The Monk

by Ian Patterson
October 14, 2008

One thing that has perhaps been understated in some quarters when considering drummer Asaf Sirkis' recordings as a leader is just how lyrical and understated his music tends to be. The Inner Noise recordings, which aligned drums and guitar with church organ, drew almost as much attention for the unorthodox nature of the trio as they did for the music itself, which is as subtle as it is expansive. It is also quietly melodic and vaguely uneasy at the same ...

Asaf Sirkis Trio: The Monk

by John Kelman
September 7, 2008

After exploring an organ/guitar/drums encounter of the most unusual kind with The Inner Noise on albums including We Are Falling (Konnex, 2005) and The Song Within (SAM, 2007), Israeli-born, British-resident drummer Asaf Sirkis turns, on the surface, to a more conventional line-up with The Monk. Still, Sirkis' writing, and a trio that eschews orthodoxy, keeps The Monk in line with the distinctive voice of Inner Noise. “Stoned Bird" opens the disc with harmonic ambiguity, driven by Greek guitarist ...

Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise: The Song Within

by Troy Collins
December 8, 2007

UK-based, Israeli-born drummer Asaf Sirkis has maintained his current trio, The Inner Noise, with church organist/keyboardist Steve Lodder and guitarist Mike Outram, since 2002. The Song Within is their third recording together.

Inspired in part by the organ music of composer Oliver Messiaen and Maurice Durufle, Sirkis' writing resonates with a rich spiritual lyricism that rises to levels of kinetic fury commonly embraced by fusion ensembles.

Drawing from classic jazz fusion innovators like guitarist ...

Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise: The Song Within

by John Kelman
November 14, 2007

If Olivier Messiaen had written music with a pulse, it might have sounded something like Asaf Sirkis & The Inner Noise. The Israeli-born, UK-based drummer has been honing a personal vision with this trio for over five years, and The Song Within is the group's best disc yet. Sirkis has retained a consistent line-up--church organist/keyboardist Steve Lodder and guitarist Mike Outram--from inception (a rare feat in itself), and this third release further solidifies its already distinctive approach. This ...