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1
Album Review

Jacques Demierre: The Hills Shout

Read "The Hills Shout" reviewed by John Eyles


Swiss pianist Jacques Demierre has a relatively small recording history considering that it dates back to June 1984. Along the way, it includes collaborations with such luminaries as Cyril Bondi, Sylvie Corvoisier, d'incise, Barry Guy, Insub Meta Orchestra, Hans Koch, Urs Leimgruber, Lucas Niggli, and Barre Phillips, in such fine recordings as Brainforest (Intakt, 2006) by the Demierre-Guy-Niggli trio. Since Assemblance (Unit Records, 1987) Demierre has also recorded occasional solo piano albums, with The Hills Shout being 2023's offering, following ...

1
Album Review

The Workers: Altbüron

Read "Altbüron" reviewed by John Eyles


Altbüron is the first album release from The Workers, a newly-formed quartet of experienced Swiss improvisers, each of whom had previously collaborated with at least one other member; the quartet comprises soprano saxophonist Urs Leimgruber (born 1952), alto saxophonist, flautist and voice Omri Ziegele (born 1959), bassist Christian Weber (born 1972) and drummer Alex Huber (born 1982), those dates illustrating the range of ages--and, hence, influences— within the group. This album was recorded live at bau 4 in Altbüron, in ...

100
Album Review

Mock Grandeur: 2

Read "2" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


This Swiss label that abides by a musician-run collective manifesto has produced a limited edition of 100 CDs --also available via digital downloads --of this quartet comprised of a dual-sax attack, guitar and drums. As the lack of a bassist gives this band some flexibility based on the openness and odd-metered cadences they project throughout these 25, largely brief and concise abstract excursions. The minimalist CD cover and lack of song titles printed on the sleeve--although I ...

4
Album Review

Tobias Meier: Interesting

Read "Interesting" reviewed by John Eyles


Saxophonist Tobias Meier has figured large in the short history of Alex Huber's Wide Ear Records; of the label's nineteen releases to date, Meier has now featured on nine of them--more than Huber himself. Interesting is the second of those nine on which Meier is credited as leader, fitting as he seems to have multi-tasked--composing, playing saxophone and other instruments, editing and producing. The recording is released on 10" vinyl, meaning that the playing time is less than nineteen minutes--maxi-single ...

10
Album Review

Urs Leimgruber - Alex Huber: Lightnings

Read "Lightnings" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Wide Ear Records is a nascent Swiss experimental jazz label, co- founded by drummer Alex Huber who performs here, in a duo setting with his fellow countryman and eminent improviser, saxophonist Urs Leimgruber. Hence, the musicians generate some cerebral merry-making on this set via the saxophonist's gyrating and stunted battle cries and the customary call and response processes, integrated with Huber's highly musical approach. The 4 tracks spawn a hodgepodge of torrential downpours and quieter parts, constructed on menacing flows ...

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Album Review

Chimaira: There Is No Alternative

Read "There Is No Alternative" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


Eminent audio engineer Walter Quintus wields his magic on this pristinely recorded effort. The wide dynamic range of this LP offers the listener amazing detail and clarity, where you can feel every pluck of a bass string and gentle cymbal hit. From a musical stance, this superior European quartet covers all the bases within a hybrid, progressive jazz and experimental paradigm. The band has quite a few weapons in its arsenal, where many pieces are crafted on a ...

69
Album Review

Lauren Kinsella & Alex Huber: All This Talk About

Read "All This Talk About" reviewed by Ian Patterson


In the thirty minutes of improvised vocals and drums (a daring premise to begin with) on All This Talk About, Lauren Kinsella and Alex Huber-- from Ireland and Switzerland, respectively--forge a rare and exotic partnership. The high-wire acrobatics of Kinsella--emitting a Joycean stream of consciousness with all manner of articulations, both syllabic and non-syllabic--will prove challenging to those who prefer their vocal jazz, well, unchallenging. Her unique, edgy improvisations are peppered sparingly, however, with more traditional and quite beautiful lyrical ...


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