Once improvisers reach a certain level of experience, it is rare that a meeting between them does not deliver the goods. By this stage they are well versed in the mechanics of collective music making off the map. They have developed a fine sense of when to play and when not, how much they can respond ...

Article: Album Review

Joe McPhee / John Edwards / Klaus Kugel: Existential Moments

Read "Existential Moments" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
October 3, 2022

Multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee's trio with British bassist John Edwards and German drummer Klaus Kugel has become another of his most potent working bands, following in the footsteps of such esteemed outfits as Trio X and Survival Unit III. On their third album, after Journey To Parazzar (NotTwo, 2018) and A Night In Alchemia (NotTwo, 2019), recorded ...

Article: Album Review

Küchen, Fernandez, Kaučič: The Steps That Resonate

Read "The Steps That Resonate" reviewed by Neri Pollastri

by Neri Pollastri
August 29, 2022

Registrato il 9 settembre 2021 a Šmartno, durante l'undicesima edizione del Brda Contemporary Music Festival, questo disco documenta l'improvvisazione realizzata dal sassofonista svedese Martin Küchen, dal pianista spagnolo Augusti Fernandez e dal batterista Zlatko Kaučič, che del festival è organizzatore e anima. Il lavoro è suddiviso in due parti (sebbene la copertina non lo riporti): la ...

Article: Album Review

Dave Rempis: Chrysopoeia

Read "Chrysopoeia" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
August 11, 2022

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 ...

Article: Album Review

Martin Küchen, Agustí Fernandez, Zlatko Kaučič: The Steps That Resonate

Read "The Steps That Resonate" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
June 21, 2022

Let's test the laws of thermodynamics with free improvisation music. The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; energy can only be transferred or changed from one form to another. This law is sublimely displayed during the live performance by Martin Küchen, Agustí Fernandez, and Zlatko Kaučič at the BCMF ...

Article: Album Review

Ballister: Chrysopoeia

Read "Chrysopoeia" reviewed by Mark Corroto

by Mark Corroto
May 5, 2022

It is difficult to imagine a Ballister recording having its origins in any setting other than a live performance. The trio of saxophonist Dave Rempis, cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love fuels each performance with the audience's energy on all their recordings, including Chrysopoeia, their tenth. Not that the trio could not produce their music ...

Article: Album Review

Rodrigo Amado Northern Liberties: We Are Electric

Read "We Are Electric" reviewed by John Sharpe

by John Sharpe
April 30, 2022

Portuguese saxophonist Rodrigo Amado hits the jackpot with the debut by his Northern Liberties quartet. He's found gifted collaborators in the Norwegian threesome of trumpeter Thomas Johansson, drummer Gard Nilssen and bassist Jon Rune Strøm. Amado's preferred domain is muscular free jazz. It's territory he's thoroughly explored with his Motion Trio, supplemented by guests like trumpeter ...