Jazz Articles

Heiner Stadler: Brains on Fire

by Howard Mandel
April 14, 2023

Brains on Fire fuels reflection on the past and response in the present. These eight extraordinary extended tracks, recorded in unusual conjunctions of master jazz improvisers instigated by composer/pianist Heiner Stadler for sessions held from 1966 through 1974, are alive with the passions of that era celebrating large, original works stretching the bounds of even the most ambitious music come before. As Stadler and his cadre of fully collaborative, creative interpreters brought immense smarts, skills and sensibilities besides ...

Heiner Stadler: Brains on Fire

by Hrayr Attarian
April 20, 2012

Heiner StadlerBrains on FireLabor Records2012One of the most exciting reissues of the first quarter of 2012 is composer and pianist Heiner Stadler's pioneering Brains on Fire, originally released in 1973. The two-CD reissue adds three lengthy, previously unreleased tracks and informative and well-researched liner notes by critic Howard Mandel. Interestingly, Stadler occupies the piano chair only on five of the eight pieces, recorded over a seven-year span in a ...

Heiner Stadler: Tribute to Bird & Monk

by Nic Jones
June 6, 2011

Tribute to Bird & Monk is a scintillating blast recorded in 1978, when the battle lines between innovation and the tradition were clearly drawn. In tackling compositions by Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, and casting them in a fresh light, arranger Heiner Stadler obviously wasn't shy about playing the provocative agent. Initially it sounds as if he was intent only on realizing music that was as far removed from the source material as possible. However, upon repeated exposure to his ...

Heiner Stadler: Tribute to Bird & Monk

by Troy Collins
May 5, 2011

Originally released in 1978 as a double LP by Tomato Records, Tribute to Bird & Monk is as revelatory now as when it was awarded a five star review in Downbeat over three decades ago. This unique tribute transcends convention, featuring a stellar cast of musicians performing under-sung German composer Heiner Stadler's polyphonic orchestrations of be-bop standards written by Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk. The lineup Stadler selected for this project spans the entire spectrum of jazz tradition. ...

Jack Walrath: In Montana

by J Hunter
August 15, 2007

Trumpeter Jack Walrath went back to Montana in January of 1980 to accomplish three things: visit his parents, burn down his old high school, and do a recording with a local quartet called--interestingly enough--Montana. Walrath never got around to torching his alma mater, but he did develop a working relationship with four talented musicians who were just as dedicated to stretching the envelope as he was. The result was In Montana, just re-released by Labor Records.

Montana wasn't your average ...

Derek Bronston Group: Ebb

by Scott Andrews
February 2, 2003

Guitarist Derek Bronston has played with wide spectrum of creative artists. That list includes Jerry Gonzalez, Tom Harrell, D.D. Jackson, and Cecil Taylor; and he regularly gigs the New York City jazz scene with his eponymous quartet. Ebb, his second CD as composer and band leader after 1999's Longing, offers nine original tracks of mellow, acoustic jazz from a quartet consisting of guitar, sax, bass and drums.

Ebb starts and finishes in a somber mood, bracketed by ...

The Derek Bronston Group: Ebb

by Glenn Astarita
January 1, 2002

Guitarist/composer, Derek Bronston signifies yet another up and coming artist emanating from New York City’s generally vibrant jazz scene. With his second release, the artist continues to meld sonorous melodies and atmospheric choruses with climactic overtures. Besides, he enjoys an extremely fruitful association with his counterpart, saxophonist, Lisa Parrott who resides as a near perfect foil in the soloing arena. However, Ms. Parrott often establishes the melody lines atop Bronston’s intricately executed chord progressions and circuitous single note leads. Whereas ...

Heiner Stadler: Jazz Alchemy

by AAJ Staff
November 1, 2000

The concept of “Third Stream" and improvised compositions (composed improvisations?) did not die in the '50s. It has matured through the last half century to the point where the line between composition and improvisation has become extremely blurred. (Witness the graphic arrangements of Morton Feldman, for example, which require the performer to specify individual notes while maintaining a calculated course of pitch or intensity.) On discs like Heiner Stadler's Jazz Alchemy, it can be a real challenge to tell exactly ...