Results for "John Sharpe"
Dave Rempis: Chrysopoeia

by John Sharpe
Recorded at Krakow's legendary Alchemia just two days before Znachki Stilyag (Aerophonic Records, 2020), on the same European tour, the power trio Ballister comprising saxophonist Dave Rempis, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, demonstrates an astonishing level of consistency in terms of both energy and excellence. Chrysopoeia constitutes the triumvirate's tenth release over some dozen ...
The John Butcher Vinyl Series

by John Sharpe
British saxophonist John Butcher has originated an astounding array of saxophone techniques which he combines in a personal syntax which is instantly recognizable, particularly involving the production of a broad range of multiphonics which vary from juddering growl to chirruping stridulation, but which defies easy description. Novel sounds in themselves of course would only be of ...
Myra Melford: For The Love Of Fire And Water

by John Sharpe
Inspired by artist Cy Twombly, pianist Myra Melford has produced a superb album which combines notated signposts with unbridled exchanges. She's helped by an all star agglomeration comprising some of New York's most accoplished instrumentalists: guitarist Mary Halvorson, saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, cellist Tomeka Reid and drummer Susie Ibarra. As might be expected of the city's brightest ...
Lisa Ullén, Elsa Bergman, Anna Lund: Space

by John Sharpe
Although pianist Lisa Ullén, bassist Elsa Bergman and drummer Anna Lund supply a formidable bottom end to the surging horn polyphony of Anna Högberg's Attack, on Space they find an alternative means to convey emotion and rapport through collective improvisation. Across five studio tracks, the Swedish threesome practices an egalitarian creed which does not privilege any ...
Vilnius Mama Jazz Festival 2022

by John Sharpe
Vilnius Mama Jazz Festival National Drama Theater Lithuania May 27-29, 2022 Introduction It's a little known fact that Lithuania has more jazz festivals per capita than any other country. Prominent among them is the Mama Jazz Festival, held annually amid the baroque beauty of the capital Vilnius. And it says something ...
Zoh Amba: O Life, O Light Vol. 1

by John Sharpe
Since relocating to NYC from Tennessee, twenty one year old tenor saxophonist and flautist Zoh Amba has been keeping fast company. On her debut O Sun (Tzadik, 2022), in a sign of affirmation label boss John Zorn guests on one track, while O Life, O Light continues in the same vein as she helms a heavyweight ...
Cath Roberts & Olie Brice: Conduits

by John Sharpe
In some ways one could liken Conduits to a telephone call between two friends, given that it was recorded simultaneously over the internet at the homes of baritone saxophonist Cath Roberts and bassist Olie Brice who live some 60 miles apart in England. But, while the vibe is conversational, this being an instrumental exchange, it is ...
Potsa Lotsa XL & Youjin Sung: Gaya

by John Sharpe
German saxophonist Silke Eberhard received deserved plaudits for her trio effort Being The Up And Down (Intakt, 2021), but Potsa Lotsa, which has been one of her prime outlets for considerably longer, also merits attention. Originally a wind quartet convened to realize The Complete Works Of Eric Dolphy (Jazzwerkstatt, 2010), and named after one of his ...
Michael Bisio: Inimitable

by John Sharpe
Although unaccompanied recordings certainly had a moment during the pandemic, bassist Michael Bisio's Inimitable was actually recorded a few weeks before Covid upended the world. While he is a bandleader of some accomplishment, with a string of excellent albums from his quartet in the mid-2000s, and recent dates which include Row For William O (Relative Pitch, ...
Daniel Carter / Matthew Shipp / William Parker / Gerald Cleaver: Welcome Adventure! Vol. 2

by John Sharpe
Such is the magic of free jazz that even when uniting known quantities, the outcomes can still surprise and enchant. Welcome Adventure! Vol. 2 constitutes the second release from an October 2019 session which brought together four seasoned veterans of the NYC scene in reedman Daniel Carter, pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist William Parker and drummer Gerald ...