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John Butcher / Pat Thomas / Dominic Lash / Steve Noble: Fathom
by John Sharpe
Finely judged sounds studded in space. Bursts of incipient rhythm. Wafts of fire music energy. Those are just some of the fruitful products of the British foursome of saxophonist John Butcher, pianist Pat Thomas, bassist Dominic Lash and drummer Steve Noble. A spider's web of alliances connects them, notably tangled given their time on the promiscuous UK free scene, so it is all the more surprising that Fathom documents their first meeting as a group, in north London's Cafe Oto ...
read moreIsm: Maua
by John Sharpe
What would a free jazz group sound like if it stayed within conventional rhythmic and melodic parameters? One possible answer was given by pianist Lennie Tristano's pioneering sides such as “Intuition" and “Digression," extemporized by a sextet including Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh. Ism, the cosmopolitan threesome of British pianist Pat Thomas, Swedish bassist Joel Grip and French drummer Antonin Gerbal, offer another option. On Maua (meaning flowers in Swahili), the outfit's fourth album, they once again ...
read moreاسم [ism]: Maua
by Mike Jurkovic
Where would the world be without the clang and the clamor of sensory heightened free-jazz blowing purposeful and wild throughout the realm and surrounding tenements? This is an unsung understanding understood by fellow wayfarers, handed down by the elders and experienced by all who listen. Pianist Pat Thomas understands all this and reassures you of it on the right rollicking Maua, a tight as a snare drum, free jazz free-for-all that does not get on your nerves halfway ...
read moreJohn Dikeman, Pat Thomas, John Edwards, Steve Noble: Volume 2
by John Sharpe
An incendiary outfit returns for a second volume (perhaps the second set?) of free jazz mayhem from London's Cafe Oto, recorded in February 2019. It comprises four players, each with a big sound, regardless of amplification, and a big personality to match--Amsterdam-based American John Dikeman, on tenor saxophone, and the British threesome of Pat Thomas (hailed by drummer Tyshawn Sorey as one of the best in the world, following their duet in the 2023 London Jazz Festival) on piano, John ...
read morePlayfield: Magic Heart
by Mike Jurkovic
Daniel Carter, who--if not the epitome of free consciousness then is very well within the immediate vicinity of striking range--gives props to electric Miles Davis and The Beatles' psychedelica with mischief and madness on the hell bent and heaven sent Magic Heart. Their second entrance into the Carter's life long discography, Playfield is a true Carter collective: intuitively passing the torch from vocalist Luisa Muhr, to Ayumi Ishito, tenor sax and electronics, pianist Eric Plaks, guitarists/electronics Aron Namenwirth ...
read morePat Thomas / Chris Sharkey / Luke Reddin-Williams: Know: Delirium Atom Paths
by John Sharpe
Anyone wondering what a mash up between Sun Ra and Krautrock pioneers like Tangerine Dream might sound like? Delirium Atom Paths supplies one possible answer. The product of an encounter between the esteemed veteran Pat Thomas on keyboards and two representatives of a younger generation in guitarist Chris Sharkey and drummer Luke Reddin-Williams, the unbroken 44-minute album presents a kaleidoscopic extravaganza of overlapping electronic textures and shifting beats. Thomas should need no introduction. A multifaceted artist equally at ...
read moreEduardo Elia: Una pregunta, tres respuestas
by Mike Jurkovic
With its dramatic undertow and harmonic tension, “Sobreviviente" steps from the plane into the deep blue sky, free falling from a high dive. It sets the head up very nicely for the hypnotic, human interplay and conceptual artistry that is Una Pregunta, Tres Respuestas, Argentinian pianist Eduardo Elia's latest pursuit into the unchartered. On Una Pregunta, Tres Respuestas (One Question Three Answers) Elia again cross examines the line dividing composition through improvisation and vice versa. It is an ...
read moreDaniel Carter, Adriana Camacho, Federico Ughi: Trabajadores De Energi
by Mike Jurkovic
An open conversationalist, active participant, and scion of creativity, forward thinking saxophonist Daniel Carter aims higher than his usual lofty visions on Trabajadores De Energi, easily the umpteenth release of '23 that bears his anachronistic brand. This free set, recorded in Rome after Carter, cosmic bassist Adriana Camacho, and longtime Carter partner in anarchy, drummer Federico Ughi met in Italy during the Sounds of Freedom international music residency, Trabajadores De Energi opens on a muted, near contemplative tone. ...
read moreJohn Dikeman / Pat Thomas / John Edwards / Steve Noble: Volume2
by Mike Jurkovic
If ever oh ever there was a more ornery conversation between four highly-charged, time-defiant individuals, Volume2 sets the mark. Arguing, as great men do, about all things seen and unseen, secular and sublime, consummate free jazzers saxophonist John Dikeman, pianist Pat Thomas, bassist John Edwards and drummer Steve Noble circle the wagons once again at London's Cafe Otto and chase the demons and angels that co-inhabit each and every one of us. “No," its half-hour plus mad rush mix of biblical ...
read morePat Thomas Chris Sharkey Luke Reddin-Williams: Know: Delirium Atom Paths
by Mike Jurkovic
Delirium Atom Paths sounds exactly as one might hope, expect, or suspect the willing abandon of UK master innovator, keyboardist Pat Thomas, guitarist Chris Sharkey, and drummer Luke Reddin-Williams to sound like: a fearless dialogue of ideas without dogma, ambitions without greed, creation without regret. Captured live at Leeds at the big bang moment in March 2020, the trio immediately sets out to render the ambiguous mute. To head off directly into the pandemic future and hold it ...
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