Jazz Articles
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Brian Allen / Tony Malaby / Tom Rainey: Synapse
by Budd Kopman
Because the eight tracks on this disc are free improvisations, Synapse officially qualifies as difficult" music. The structure, density, dynamics and overall timbre evolve as each track plays, and as such takes a bit more closer listening, even repeated listenings, to begin to follow what these three wonderful musicians are doing. The album has a very open sound since there is no chordal instrument, and not really even a rhythm instrument. Drummer Tom Rainey (heard this year ...
read moreBrian Allen with Tony Malaby and Tom Rainey: Synapse
by Glenn Astarita
Trombonist/composer Brian Allen aligns himself with the creme de la creme of New York City jazz musicians on this bass-less trio date. Synapse is a cleverly articulated effort; Allen nimbly handles the lower (bass line) register while toggling between his leadership and soloing duties. During nip and tuck dialogues, the band navigates an abundance of disparate time signatures.
Tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby pronounces fire and brimstone during most of this session as the band follows by an evolutionary ...
read moreBrian Allen/Jacob Koller: Brain Killer
by Jerry D'Souza
The winds of fate blew cold inside a Canadian airport where Brian Allen and Jacob Koller were tied up in red tape. Whatever the lack of merit in that infliction of figurative bondage, it did help to get the two closer together musically.
Allen and Koller are an interesting pair. There is an easy symbiosis, an oft-used term, but one that fits in well with this duo. What makes it all the more relevant is the way they ...
read moreBrian Allen: Solo Trombone
by Dave Nathan
Brian Allen is from Lake Jackson, Texas where part of this solo trombone album was recorded. He studied with some of the masters of avant-garde /free jazz such as Roswell Rudd and Ellery Eskelin. To state the obvious, solo trombone albums are not everyday occurrences and it takes a good deal of self-assurance to but one out on a CD. The leading practitioner is German avant-garde trombonist Albert Mangelsdorff with his CDs, Tromboneliness and Solo. These efforts, among others, encouraged ...
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