Jazz Articles

Yimba Rudo: Yimba Rudo

by Jerome Wilson
October 8, 2019

The phrase “Yimba Rudo" means “Sing Love" in Zimbabwe's Shona language. It is also the name of this trio which brings together musicians from three different worlds. Vibraphonist Kevin Norton is a respected figure in the avant jazz sphere who has worked with the likes of Anthony Braxton and Paul Dunmall. Bassist Steve LaSpina is a veteran presence on the mainstream New York jazz scene who has played with everyone from Benny Carter to Carmen McRae. Drummer Jim Pugliese has ...

Instinctual Eye: Born In Brooklyn

by Glenn Astarita
September 9, 2006

Frode Gjerstad (alto sax, clarinet) and Nick Stephens (bass) impart an improvisational Euro-jazz vista on this trio date, which was recorded in Brooklyn, New York. But the always multitasking percussionist/vibraphonist Kevin Norton balances out the vast temporal planes, while serving as a colorist and accelerator. Throughout the two lengthy works, the artists communicate a mood-evoking jamboree of emotive aspects through the power of intuition and razor-sharp execution. With an interleaving group-based mode of attack, the trio darts, scurries and jabs ...

Billy Stein: Hybrids

by Troy Collins
July 27, 2006

Hybrids, guitarist Billy Stein's debut recording, arrives after thirty years of playing sideman to some of the finest musicians in the New York area. A singular stylist with an unorthodox approach, Stein shares the same off-center sensibility as stylistic peers like Bern Nix, Joe Morris and Michael Musillami.

While attending Milt Hinton's Jazz Workshop at Hunter College in the 1970s, Stein found a kindred spirit in percussionist Kevin Norton, who now runs the Barking Hoop label. In the ...

String Trio of New York: Frozen Ropes (with Oliver Lake)

by Troy Collins
March 13, 2006

The venerable String Trio of New York, founded in 1977, is one of the jazz world's longest running avant-chamber ensembles. Co-founding guitarist James Emery and bassist John Lindberg, along with the group's most recent addition, violinist Rob Thomas, continue to balance stunning virtuosity with free-form expressionism. Featuring iconic alto saxophonist Oliver Lake as a guest artist, Frozen Ropes is a unique item in the enduring ensemble's lengthy discography. Lake proves himself an ideal companion for the trio, whose ardent textures, ...

String Trio of New York: Frozen Ropes (with Oliver Lake)

by David Adler
October 23, 2005

On occasion, the String Trio of New York (guitarist James Emery, bassist John Lindberg, and violinist Rob Thomas) has worked with special guests, including pianist Anthony Davis and vocalist Jay Clayton. Frozen Ropes, with altoist Oliver Lake, is a worthy and concise addition to the group's catalog.

These five selections total just over 46 minutes. The first two tracks, both extended pieces, are the strongest. “Shiffs, penned by Lake, opens with composed rubato dissonance and progresses through a thicket of ...

Kevin Norton's Bauhaus Quartet: Time-Space Modulator

by Mark Corroto
December 13, 2004

I must admit, I didn't consider Kevin Norton's latest entitled Time-Space Modulator to be a reference to L'szl' Moholy-Nagy's sculpture “Light-Space Modulator." Nope. I referenced the drummer's work with, and admiration for Anthony Braxton, and immediately connected this disc with Bugs Bunny's encounters with Marvin the Martian. I can even picture Braxton speaking with Marvin's voice and calling for “the P-53 time-space modulator."

But then I digress.

Norton, like Braxton (and Marvin) are partial to a ...

Kevin Norton: Change Dance - troubled energy

by Glenn Astarita
April 12, 2002

Percussionist/composer Kevin Norton’s latest production adds a little more amplitude to his stature as one of the leading thinkers and practitioners of progressive jazz. There’s a story behind Change Dance, and Norton approaches these intersecting works via multipart segments, each marked by key focal points that highlight the various instrumentalists.

With this release, Norton enlists an impressive cast for a thematic foray founded upon sinuous movements, long rests between measures, and inventive soloing. On the opener, “Section ...

Kevin Norton & Haewon Min: Play The Music Of Anthony Braxton

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

Composer/percussionist, Kevin Norton has spent a lot of quality time with the estimable saxophonist/composer, Anthony Braxton. On this production, recorded live at “Roulette” in New York City, Norton and classically trained pianist, Haewon Min, reinterpret or perhaps personalize, five of Braxton’s works.

Norton utilizes small percussion instruments, vibes, and marimba as contrapuntal and exploratory devices throughout his quaintly organized and cleverly arranged passages with Ms. Min. On this release, Braxton’s geometrically inclined – new music type works are radiantly enacted. ...