New Jazz from Italy part 6 : Rara Avis - Mutations / Multicellulars Mutations [dEN Records]

Rara Avis:
Stefano Ferrian - soprano/tenor saxophone
Ken Vandermark - baritone/tenor saxophone, Bb clarinet
Simone Quatrana - piano
Luca Pissavini - double bass
SEC_ - revox tape recorder, instant sound treatment

dEN Records 2013

Blog's followers should already be famiar with the the names of Stefano Ferria, Simone Quatrana and Luca Pissavini (all three are playing in Ferrian's Nutimbre, Luca Pissavini appears as well on the Nido Workshop cd). I believe Ken Vandermark needs no introduction whatsoever to anyone even vaguely interested in improvised music. The same can't be said about band's electronic tinker SEC_ was only introduced to me through this cd (an group's concert in Alchemia last year). 

Resonance finale at Manghha - Krakow Autumn Jazz 24.11

It's been 6 years since Resonance was born on Alchemia's stage. Born first as an idea by Krakow Autumn Jazz Festival's director, then on the paper as Ken Vandermark would prepare the music for the artists he and Marek have invited, but truly brought into existence during a week of daily rehearsals and improvised concerts in the evening. 

The group is now the only orchestra Vandermark leads. Territory Band would focus on more experimental forms and fully improvisational Chicago Tentet (where Ken is almost often named the co-leader along Peter Brotzmann and Mats Gustafsson), Resonance, in my ears, was a truly jazz orchestra with a big sound, gritty grooves and plenty od Mingus, Evans or even Ellington, even if Vandermark's vision is fully dedicated to the presence of improvised music.

Resonance day 4 at Alchemia - Krakow Autumn Jazz 22.11

The last of the four days with Resonance at Alchemia, but not the last meeting with music during the week. Polish jazz scene will be presented Saturday evening (Pawel Szpura & Pawel Postaremczak duo; Piotr Damasiewicz Imprographic Quartet). The Resonance orchestra will return on Sunday for the final concert at Manggha to present the results of the rehearsals held during last few days.
A brief summary of friday events at Alchemia:

Day 4

Set I

Per-Ake Holmlander - Tim Daisy
Tuba and drums is definitely not your usual jazz duo, but such boundaries are not really of importance in improvised music. Per-Ake employs his repertoire of bubbling and gurgling sounds and Tim spices it up with some tricks from his own bag (literally, taking out a different set of mallets, pocket radio and else). The most entertaining and surprising part of the set is when Per-Ake treats his tuba as a drumset of his own - a percussive fiesta alltogether with Tim. 

Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tentet - Walk, Love, Sleep [Smalltown]

Peter Brotzmann - tarogato, Bb clarinet, tenor and alto saxophones
Ken Vandermark - Bb clarinet, tenor and baritone saxophone
Mats Gustafsson - tenor and baritone saxophone
Joe McPhee - alto saxophone, pocket trumpet
Jeb Bishop - trombone
Johannes Bauer - trombone
Per Ake Holmlander - tuba, cimbasso
Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello, electronics
Kent Kessler - double bass
Michael Zerang - drums
Paal Nilssen-Love - drums

Smalltown Superjazz 2012

Chicago Tentet's music is an experience unlike any other. It is indeed a gathering of who's who in avant-garde jazz scene, although one shouldn't think that music works like an all-star weekend team. Over the years the band developed its sound and ways of collective improvisation that relies on telepathic levels of communication and interaction.

DKV Trio - Past Present [Not Two]

DKV Trio

Ken Vandermark - reeds
Kent Kessler - double bass
Hamid Drake - drums


Not Two 2012

DKV trio's concert in the course of 2012 Autumn Jazz Festival was a night to remember for many reasons. The trio played up to the promise and delivered. The concert itself, a result of a decade - long logistical struggle to bring together the three at one place and time, was also the release date campaign to a 7cds boxset called "Past Present" that would gather a several of the famed DKV performances done near the end / beginning of each year in Chicago and Milwaukee.

DKV Trio at Manggha (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 1.11)

The bar was set up incredibly high at the first set of the evening by the Hera. Still DKV is like an dream team trio, I've heard legends about their concert 10 years ago in Katowice and Marek Winiarski from Not Two tried ever so hard to bring them in to Krakow in the last years but it proved to be impossible because of the musicians schedule - they've among the busiest people in the world. And it finally happened.

And boy it was worth waiting for. The trio grooved with grittines, swinging soulfully and passionately. Just unresistable ride, joyfull and fun. When they get lyrical it's smooth and lushfull, when they hit it hard it's an instant knock-out, when they want to be rough or abstract, they just do, without ever loosing the grip of the story, all even the most abstract dots connect with each other in a perfect way. There's elegance and energy that rarely meet together, the swag and substance, the heavy groove dances lightly on its toes and the trio is just on fire and your foot is toetapping without a stop.

As good as it gets. Smokin' hot jazz. 

2nd set:
DKV
Ken Vandermark - tenor sax, clarinet
Kent Kessler - double bass
Hamid Drake - drums

Manggha. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 01.11.2012

Hera XL with Hamid Drake (Krakow Autumn Jazz; 1.11)

This was for me, and possibly many others, the most awaited evening of this year's festival. Hera is possible one of the strongest units on the scene and it still evolving band, constantly in search of new and exciting. I invite you to check on the blog the review of their 2nd cd "Where My Complete Beloved Is" as well as the interview with the band's leader Waclaw Zimpel. The quartet met with Hamid Drake in Lublin a year and a half ago, the double bill evening ended in a the wonderfully groovy jam session and they immediately hit it off and the idea to work together in the future was born on the spot.

The Krakow concert is the day that this idea came to reality and the band presented a new series of compositions that show the continuous development of the musical vision. Trance, hypnotic, the music would shine with the rhythmi propulsation provided by the double drums sets behind, with the polyphonic melodies presented by the double front line, with the stead bass groove, with sharp guitar sound and the drones of hurdy gurdy.

Hera

There was something absolutely magical about the performance, complete and total experience of sound, rhythm, melody. Omnipresent, the music would take you in wholly, showing you the paradise world of universal love. I honestly lack word to describe the passionate feeling that the music gave me. Hats off especially to Maciej Cierlinski who just added an entire new universe to the band's music (also the craziest solo of the night, if Jimi Hendrix have played hurdy gurdy, that's how it would sound). It was also the first time I've heard them with Raphael Roginski and his unique sound would enhance so fabulously the constant melodious flow.

To have listened to this band was like to jump into a river, and just keep floating, keep admiring the constance of change around you, and it felt so safe and natural to meet all this with an openess of mind and heart. In the words of Joe McPhee: "fucking amazing".

1st set:
Hera XL:
Waclaw Zimpel - clarinet, contralto clarinet
Pawel Postaremczak - tenor, soprano sax
Raphael Roginski - guitar
Maciej Terlinski - hurdy gurdy
Ksawery Wojcinski - double bass
Pawel Szpura - drums

Hamid Drake - drums

Manggha. Krakow Autumn Jazz. 01.11.2012

Ken Vandermark Resonance Ensemble - What Country Is This? [Not Two]

Resonance:
Ken Vandermark - baritone sax & Bb clarinet
Dave Rempis - alto & tenor sax
Mikolaj Trzaska - alto sax & bass clarinet
Waclaw Zimpel - Bb & bass clarinet
Steve Swell - trombone
Magnus Broo - trumpet
Per-Ake Holmlander - truba
Devin Hoff - double bass
Michael Zerang - drums
Tim Daisy - drums

Not Two 2012

I've written very briefly about this band's performance in the beginning of the year and you can check the old post for a bit of background history. "What Country Is This?" is basically is a result of the third meeting of the band, recorded in Chicago studio session after busy small-groups concerts and rehearsal schedule. If you know the previous recordings (especially the last year's "Kafka in Flight") you know more or less what are you going to get, which means you shouldn't hesitate to take another round.

Krakow Autumn Jazz 2012 Festival Program - November and December

As promised here's the latter half of the program. First day will finish a 5-day long marathon. And there's another residency at Alchemia with Barry Guy New Orchestra - 3 nights in Alchemia and one in Manggha (which will coincide with the release date of the Not Two documenting their first run in Krakow on 2010 Festival which, incidentally, was the very moment that this blog was born). The Festival will end after two months with classic eropean trio The Ames Room, almost exactly 2 months after it's beginning. This is going to be a great autumn, don't you think?



November:

Thursday 01.11.2012. MANGGHA

DKV TRIO

Ken Vandermark (USA) tenor sax, clarinets

Kent Kessler (USA) bass

Hamid Drake (USA) drums, percussion

HERA XL feat. HAMID DRAKE

Wacław Zimpel (Poland) clarinet, bass clarinet
Paweł Posteremczak (Poland) soprano and tenor saxes
Ksawery Wójciński (Poland) double bass
Paweł Szpura (Poland) drums

Rafael Rogiński (Poland) guitar

Maciej Cierliński (Poland) hurdy-gurdy

Hamid Drake (USA) drums, percussion

Niedziela 04.11.2012. Literki godz.20:00

Film presentation

Musician (Ken Vandermark)

reż. Daniel Kraus (60 min.)

Monday 05.11.2012. Barka godz.20:00

STEFANO FERRIAN / SIMONE QUATRANA DUO

Thursday 12.11.2012. Literki godz.20:00

Film presentation

Soldier Of The Road (Brotzmann)

Reż. Bernard Josse (90 min)

Czwartek 15.11.2012. Literki godz.20:00

RAFAŁ MAZUR / KEIR NEURINGER DUO

Niedziela 17.11.2012. Kino Agrafka godz.20:15

CONCERT FOR FUKUSHIMA

Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet + goście:

Toshinori Kondo

Michiyo Yagi

Otomo Yoshihide 

Akira Sakata

-

screening of the concert registered during the Music Unlimited 2011 in Wels.

Dir.Pavel Borodin  (Germany/Austria 2012, 105 min.)

Tuesday till Friday 20 – 23.11.2012. (20-22) ALCHEMIA

BARRY GUY NEW ORCHESTRA (23) MANGGHA

Barry Guy (Anglia) bass, composer, director

Agusti Fernandez (Hiszpania) piano

Evan Parker (Anglia) tenor & soprano saxes

Mats Gustafsson (Szwecja) baritone & tenor saxes, fluteophone

Hans Koch (Szwajcaria) tenor & soprano saxes, clarinets

Herb Robertson (USA) trumpet

Johannes Bauer (Niemcy) trombone

Per Åke Holmlander (Szwecja) tuba

Paul Lytton (Anglia) percussion

Raymond Strid (Szwecja) percussion

Maya Homburger (Szwajcaria) baroque violin

Trevor Watts (Anglia) alto sax

Wednesday 28.11.2012. Barka

REMPIS / ZIMPEL / TRACZYK / SZPURA

Dave Rempis (USA) saxes

Wacław Zimpel( Polska) clarinet

Wojtek Traczyk (Polska) bass

Paweł Szpura (Polska) drums

Thursday 29.11.2012. ALCHEMIA

BOUGE

Johannes Bauer (Niemcy) trombone

Luc Ex (Holandia) guitar

Isabelle Duthoit (Francja) clarinet, voice

December:

Sunday 02.12.2012. ALCHEMIA

THE AMES ROOM 
Will Guthrie (Australia) drums
Clayton Thomas (Australia) double bass 
Jean-Luc Guionnet (Francja) alto sax

Resonance at Fabryka (14.03)

Bit of history : Resonance was born on 2007, special project for the Autumn Jazz Festival, ten musicians from four different countries, five different cities, some of them old fellows, for many of them it was the first chance to collaborate. Which, as a result, brought on many new, ongoing, partnerships like Reed Trio (Waclaw Zimpel, Ken Vandermark, Mikolaj Trzaska), Mikolaj projects with Michael Zerang, Inner Ear (Mikolaj, Steve Swell, Per-Ake Holmlander, Tim Daisy), Project Four (Waclaw Zimpel, Dave Rempis, Mark Tokar, Tim Daisy) or Waclaw & Michael duo.

The new cd "What Country is this" presents the program played in Chicago last year, which was the third edition of project. Now they started an european tour to present the program, gradually introducing new compositions to the playlist. 

There will be chance to write more about music and the cd, for now let me say this - if any of the next few dates happen to be anywhere nearby your place, do not miss it. This band storms through complex charts and arrangements with grace, power and conviction, explodes with fiery improvisations, rides the funk-rock powerfull grooves (not unlike the riffs and tunes Ken writes for Vandermark V but with twice the same amount of colours, layers and brass-reeds contrasts and contrapoints). 

Ken's writing echoes Mingus, Kenton, Evans, Lutoslawski and probably much more that I'm not able to enlist here. Ten of the top improvisors's execute the pieces bringing the life to the notes with massive group sound and mind-blowing soloing. (immagine a powerfull base line played by the baritone, tuba, bass and two drum -sets, a rhythm counterpoint set by roaring brass section, another layer added by reeds and a smoking solo on top of that). Will get back to the cd (can't wait to have my first listen tomorrow evening), for now, let me repeat - do not miss this band's performance if you have a chance to see them!

next dates:

March 15th, 2012

Pawilon Nowej Gazowni, Poznań, Poland

[part of the cycle, "Nowy Wiek Awangardy"]

more: http://www.nowywiekawangardy.pl/

March 16th, 2012

klub Żak, Gdańsk, Poland
more: http://www.klubzak.com.pl

March 17th, 2012

Kunstencentrum Belgie, Hasselt, Belgium 
more: http://www.kunstencentrumbelgie.com

more info about the group
http://resonancefestival.blogspot.com/


Resonance:

reeds:
Ken Vandermark - baritone sax, clarinet
Dave Rempis - tenor sax, alto sax
Mikolaj Trzaska - alto sax, bass clarinet
Waclaw Zimpel - clarinet, bass clarinet, alto clarinet
brass:
Steve Swell - trombone
Magnus Broo - trumpet
Per-Ake Holmlander - tuba

Mark Tokar - double bass
Michael Zerang - drums
Tim Daisy - drums

Fabryka Klub. Krakow. 14.03.2012

Ken Vandermark - Mark in the Water [Not Two]

Ken Vandermark - tenor sax, Bb clarinet, bass clarinet

Not Two 2011

This Ken Vandermark's second solo cd (the first one - "Furniture Music" was released on Okka in 2003). 10 pieces of music selected from the concert he played on November 29th of 2010 in Alchemia. I've been there, I've written about it and I still remember that evening.

Quite often when you hear a live record of a concert you loved you get disapointed, without the aura of the stage, without the sense of community between the artist and the audience, the magic, the energy is gone and the recording seems just "ok".  Well, this is not the case.

Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-Love at Alchemia (25.10)

There's only a handfull of musicians who played more often in Alchemia in recent years. And only a handfull of musicians who constistently play at the level this duo does. A fact known well by Krakow audience which filled up completely the audience (corridor, backstage, floor) space of Alchemia.

Tim Daisy & Ken Vandermark - Conversation [Multikulti]

Tim Daiy - drums

Ken Vandermark - Bb and bass clarinet, tenor sax

Multikulti 2011

Tim Daisy and Ken Vandermark has played together a countless number of gigs in a numerous (but definitely easier to count) Vandermark's project, starting with the duo, through The Vandermark 5 up to the large ensembles like Resonance. "The Conversation" is their third duo release after the self-released "August Music" (2007) and the double lp on Laurence Family "Light on the Wall" (2010).

3rd Ear - Experimental Scene to announce polish presidency in EU - Fred Firth, Paristetris, The Ex & Ken Vandermark and others in Warsaw

On 1. of July Poland started its presidency in Eropean Union - which was celebrated with various events across the country, including performances by Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Angie Stone or Tricky. "Trzecie Ucho" ("3rd Ear") was one of those events and, while I'm not really sure what's the connection between the polish presidency and experimental or alternative music scene, I'm very gratefull to whoever grabbed the opportunity to reach for the kind of fundings necessary to create an event like this. Because of the abbundancy of the performances I'll try to just briefly summarize the main projects of the evening that began in the Copernicus Science Centre and finished in the vast post-industrial space of the Warsaw's Heat Plant.

Reed Trio (Trzaska / Vandermark / Zimpel) - Last Train to the First Station [Kilogram]

Reed Trio
Mikolaj Trzaska - alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, bass clarinet
Ken Vandermark - tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, clarinet
Waclaw Zimpel - bass clarinet, clarinet, tarogato

1kg Kilogram Records 2011

I remember how I've been excited getting news about this trio first recording ever since 2008. Wawrzyn Makinia (known maybe better as Laurenz; owner of Multikulti) was all hyped about the first recording session (I was visiting Poznan for Made in Chicago Festival and could a get a first-hand report). Only to find out (through Ken Vandermark's facebook and occasional meetings in Krakow with Waclaw or Mikolaj) that the session was lost due to the hard disk crash. The trio's set during the second edition of Resonance project (autumn 2009) was so inspiring and in complete sync that It was obvious enough that those three will continue to work together.

Ken Vandermark Predella Group - Strade d'Acqua / Roads of Water [Multikulti]

Jeb Bishop - trombone
Jaimie Branch - trumpet
Tim Daisy - percussion
Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello
Nate McBride - bass
Jeff Parker - guitar
Ken Vandermark - reeds

Multikulti 2011

This is a first soundtrack in vast discography of Ken Vandermark and it's something special.

Enough to look at the names to see that Ken chose a stellar group, all players that he knows profoundly having a lot of experience playing together previously (one exception to that rule is Jaimie Branch - I don't know about any other Ken's project including him). 

This is a collection of compositions that support the video, but the music tells the story as well as the picture itself. These are mostly slow-tempo pieces, very melodic, somehow pensive. The film tells the story of people and places that are pure and simple. And while there are no easy cliche' etno clues in there (although the wonderful sound of marimba in "Sieve of the Soul" and percussion beats by Tim Daisy throughout have this 'world' music charm) the feeling of naturality pervades throughout the album, music is somehow relaxed, never forced, without any sense of urgence, going slowly with the stream of river, even during the more dramatic, more abstract, darker passages. 

All musicians are given a lot of space to shine. "Blue Over Green" with light funk etno-groove features extended guitar solo by Parker in two versions - gently and jazzy one in the first half, rocking in the latter. My favourite moment could be when Jaimie Branch enters with light trumpet solo after the introducing theme of "Austral Cartography". In fact Ken hardly takes any solo space until the explosive (in a Powerhouse way) end of "Dust Town" which is only the fourth track of the album (out of total seven). Yet it's absolutely clear it's his album, the way he leads the band, the ways the heads are composed (wonderfully arranged themes, the brass octave unisono in the middle of "Sieve of the Soul" is something of otherwordly beauty, the doubled cello and bass lines are something already known from recent Vandermark 5 albums).

Since it's possible to watch the movie on-line and thus listen to most of the music from this album I can only recommend that you get to know these sounds and pictures personally. An experience which I hope will be
as gratifying as it was in my case.

two tracks from the album are available in the radio playlist played on 02.20.2012
watch the movie here