Guitarist Ava Mendoza has been part of the Brooklyn creative music scene since relocating east from the Bay Area in 2013, and rapidly became a vital part of a sub-category of musicians blurring the lines between rigorous composition, oddball rock and free music (think: drummers Weasel Walter and Nick Podgurski, bassist Tim Dahl, etc.). The
Bobby Bradford & Hafez Modirzadeh with Mark Dresser, Alex Cline No Business Records (2016) Amid the structural redefinition of jazz music, which is continually ongoing and, as of late, has placed an emphasis on the merger between free improvisation, arch composition and pulsative, rock-based rhythms, there is still much conversation to be had on the
Rempis Percussion Quartet – Cash and Carry Aerophonic, 2015 Recorded August 31st, 2014 at the Hungry Brain, Chicago; recorded, mixed, and mastered by Dave Zuchowski, design by Johnathan Crawford, produced by Dave Rempis Personnel Dave Rempis (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones) Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) Tim Daisy (drums) Frank Rosaly (drums) Track Listing Water Foul
A REVIEW BY JOHN MORRISON “The Freedom Principle” is a common thread that runs through Black life in America. In the abstract, it is the collective/culminating desire for autonomy and self-determination in an oppressive society. This principle lives as a historical continuum, manifesting itself in our collective cultural, political and spiritual moods, challenging the dominant
Michael Foster’s The Ghost There’s a First Time for Everything Self-released on Bandcamp and on cassette; recorded live in Philadelphia. Michael Foster is an emerging musician on the New York music scene. For the past several years, he’s been active working with his group, The Ghost. He also has a duo consisting of himself and
James Brandon Lewis Trio – No Filter (BNS Records, 2016) Consisting of Luke Stewart on bass, Warren G. “Trae” Crudup III on drums and bandleader James Brandon Lewis on tenor sax and vocals, the James Brandon Lewis Trio is an electrifying, forward thinking contemporary Jazz ensemble. The trio’s newest project No Filter is a forceful,
Farmers by Nature – Love and Ghosts (AUM Fidelity, 2014) Gerald Cleaver (drums) William Parker (bass) Craig Taborn (piano) A double live album of music from the band Farmers by Nature (Gerald Cleaver, Craig Taborn, William Parker) is a daunting affair, especially if you’re familiar with any of these musicians or the trio’s previous recordings.
MUYASSAR KURDI AND NICK JOZWIAK – INTERSECTIONS AND VARIATIONS BANDCAMP RELEASE (JANUARY 1, 2017) Intersections and Variations by Muyassar Kurdi and Nicholas Jozwiak presents cutting edge sounds that will really grab your attention. The creative use of gongs, plus cello filling the air, is quite effective establishing the mood of this composition. Muyassar’s voice
WILLIAM PARKER – FOR THOSE WHO ARE, STILL (AUM FIDELITY, 2015) This box set comes with three CDs (see below for full details of the contents of the CDs). The opening sounds of For Fannie Louie Hamer + Vermeer, is basically found in music from India. This goes on at length. It is more improvised
