Results for "Matana Roberts"

Matana Roberts

Matana Roberts is a dynamic saxophonist, composer and improviser, who tries to expose in her music the mystical roots and spiritual traditions of African American creative expression. A Chicago native, she was fortunate enough to be surrounded by elder musicians who showed her by distinct example the importance of listening to one's personal creative voice while at the same time using the profound and many layered traditions of jazz and improvised musics to act only as her creative guide, not as her creative definer. By using their mentorship, she has been able to craft a voice and creative focus that truly speaks to her own true artistic individuality. She feels strongly that her music should not only reflect the many colors and moods of universal human emotions, but that it should also testify, critique, document, and respond to the many socio-economic, historical, and cultural inequalities that exist not only in this country, but all over the world. Her second recording collaboration with bassist Joshua Abrams and drummer/ percussionist Chad Taylor - known as sticks&stones was released to critical acclaim on Thrill Jockey records in June of 2004.( www.thrilljockey.com) She has played alongside such musical luminaries as Steve Lacy, Eugene Chadbourne,Hery Grimes, Hannah Marcus, Fred Anderson, Nicole Mitchell, Jeff Parker, Robert Barry, Joe Maneri, Miya Masaoka, Vijay Iyer, David Boykins, and Ralph Alessi. Matana is currently working on a recording of “live electronic” solo compositions, a string project to be premiered in October 2004, and is collaborating with wordsmith Reg E. Gaines and tap dancer Savion Glover on a project that explores the legacy of saxophonist John Coltrane. She is also an associate member of the A.A.C.M.--Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. Matana is also on the faculty of S.I.M.--School For Improvised Music.

Phil Freeman Talks Jazz in the 21st Century

by Tyran Grillo
July 26, 2022

If music journalism had an award for honesty, it would belong firmly on the shelf of Phil Freeman alongside his latest book, Ugly Beauty. And if I had a choice about the design of said award, I might opt for a gold-plated boxing glove to symbolize the gut punches his words deliver. Not because his approach ...

Johnny Gandelsman: This Is America: An Anthology

by Hrayr Attarian
July 5, 2022

Violinist Johnny Gandelsman is as versatile as he is innovative. An accomplished composer, improviser and a producer, Gandelsman defies categorization and excels in the watershed area among genres. A member of both the unique string quartet Brooklyn Rider and the Silk Road Ensemble and the owner of Circle Records, Gandelsman has his finger on the pulse ...

Brilliant Corners 2022

by Ian Patterson
March 31, 2022

Brilliant Corners 2022 The Black Box jny:Belfast, N. Ireland March 4-12, 2022 Brilliant Corners is ten. Belfast's onliest jazz festival celebrated the milestone by welcoming audiences back to The Black Box after 2021's virtual edition. When Brilliant Corners was last held here before a live audience, in March 2020, Covid ...

Ugly Beauty - Jazz In The 21st Century

by Angelo Leonardi
February 22, 2022

Ugly Beauty Phil Freeman 250 pagine ISBN: #978-1-78904-632-8 Zer0 Books 2021 Critico musicale da tempo presente nelle riviste musicali e nei blog statunitensi e inglesi (The Wire, Down Beat, Jazziz, The Village Voice, Stereogum ecc...) Phil Freeman si occupa sia di jazz che di metal (è stato capo ...

Jeff Parker: Forfolks

by Karl Ackermann
January 29, 2022

Guitarist/composer Jeff Parker is closely associated with indie group Tortoise and Rob Mazurek's Chicago Underground and Exploding Star Orchestra projects, but the scope of his work is extensive. The Bridgeport, Connecticut native has worked in numerous genres and technologies, and with a varied range of artists including, Joshua Redman, Nicole Mitchell, Yo La Tengo, Matana Roberts, ...

Logan Richardson: To Boldly Go Where No Jazz Has Gone Before

by Chris May
March 8, 2021

In a 2016 interview, jny: Kansas City-born alto saxophonist Logan Richardson said: “Jazz will constantly change because there's constantly a new us, new times. There will always be a fight from the conformists--but they don't represent where the tradition is coming from." Richardson was talking not long after the release of his adventurous Blue Note album, ...

Logan Richardson: AfroFuturism

by Chris May
February 26, 2021

In a 2016 interview, Kansas City-born alto saxophonist Logan Richardson said: “Jazz will constantly change because there's constantly a new us, new times. There will always be a fight from the conformists--but they don't represent where the tradition is coming from." Richardson was talking not long after the release of his adventurous Blue Note album, Shift. ...

Saxophone Colossi: An Alternative Top Ten Banging Albums

by Chris May
February 18, 2021

Miles Davis once said you could tell the history of jazz in four words: Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker. You might want to add John Coltrane, you might even want to add Davis. But however you cut it, saxophones and trumpets have been the flag bearers of the music. Trumpets got things rolling and saxophones came into ...

I Don't Hear Nothin' But The Blues: I Don't Hear Nothin' But The Blues Volume 3: Anatomical Snuffbox

by Karl Ackermann
October 26, 2020

The prolific and eclectic saxophonist/composer Jon Irabagon finds his most uninhibited side with his I Donʼt Hear Nothinʼ but the Blues (IDHNBTB) group, one he aptly describes as his “brutal ensemble." I Don't Hear Nothin' but the Blues Volume 3: Anatomical Snuffbox expands the group that debuted as a duo, then became a trio on Volume ...