Results for "David Bixler"

David Bixler

Alto saxophonist and composer David Bixler has recently embarked on an artistic reemergence with the release of two new recordings; In the Face of Chaos (2019) with Bixler, Boccato, Cowherd, and Sturm, and Blended Lineage (2020) with the Bixtet. A traumatic brain injury suffered by his youngest son necessitated a shift in Bixler’s priorities during the last decade—a period in which his family devoted much of its energy to the care of its youngest member. Because of this new lens, Bixler’s creative approach to composition, performance, and recording is repurposed and evident in his most recent output. For the recording In the Face of Chaos, Bixler has assembled a band that understands the message of resilience and hope despite the odds that this music was intended to convey

Gregg August: How To Have That Difficult Conversation

By DAVID BIXLER

Composer and Bassist Gregg August's Dialogues on Race was composed 10 years ago and was inspired by the election of Barack Obama combined with his discovery of the compelling story of Emmett Till. Now, a decade later a decision to step beyond the safety of the music was motivation to record it with the intention of ...

Frank Kimbrough: Disappearing in the music

By DAVID BIXLER

I was saddened to hear about the loss of Frank Kimbrough. I had the privilege of speaking with him in March of 2019 for LINER NOTES. I am sharing this episode from June of that year. A deep musician, he says at one point in the interview, that as opposed to striving for stardom, he just ...

Inside the Grief

By DAVID BIXLER

Label: Bixxlixx Music
Released: 2020
Track listing: What Does if Care?/I Spy Like Shosti 389 Inside the Grief Balm Vote!

Blended Lineage

By DAVID BIXLER

Label: Red Piano Records
Released: 2020
Track listing: Blended Lineage pt 1 Origins Blended Lineage pt 2 Motherland Blended Lineage pt 3 Trenches Blended Lineage pt 4 My Soul Swoons Slowly

Ben Wendel: going forward with a High Heart

By DAVID BIXLER

High Heart is the latest release from tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel. In this episode of Liner Notes, Wendel discusses the creation of this music as well as the unique position he found himself in when air travel came to a grinding halt in March at the beginning of the pandemic. This episode features ...

Dafnis Prieto: I'm a drummer because I love melody

By DAVID BIXLER

Composer and percussionist Dafnis Prieto's new recording Transparency features a front line of saxophonists Román Filiú and Peter Apfelbaum, along with Alex Norris on trumpet. In this episode of Liner Notes, Prieto speaks about his intentions behind this recording as well the fortunate timing that allowed him to capture the project immediately before the shutdown. This ...

Ingrid Jensen in the Neighborhood

By DAVID BIXLER

In this time of double pandemic trumpeter Ingrid Jensen looked around and did something for her community by providing nightly concerts in her front yard. In this episode of Liner Notes she talks about her response to these troubled times and how she is balancing family, music, and teaching. This episode features music ...

Rudresh Mahanthappa and His Heroes

By DAVID BIXLER

One Lineup, Two Approaches

By JEROME WILSON

These two releases have the same instrumental lineup, a jazz quintet fronted by saxophone and trumpet plus a string quartet. They even use the same trumpet player, Michael Rodriguez. However the two CDs take this formation down different paths. Brian Landrus For Now Blueland 2020 Baritone ...