Jazz Alchemist radio with Stan, Glass and others

Stan Getz

While I won't be able to be in the studio to provide the usual live commentary, the playlist is ready and will be played on www.radiofrycz.pl at 8pm CET (as most mondays) with birthdays of Stan Getz, Louis Sclavis, Philip Glass and with some music from recently reviewed cds by.

I'm also proud to announce the very first interview - with Jeremiah Cymerman, that will be posted soon on the blog. :)

detailed tracklist will be posted tomorrow. I'm waiting for You on the facebook chat, during the program.

1. Stan Getz - You go to my head
2. Aldo Romano, Louis Sclavis, Henri Texier - Soweto Sorrow
3. Philip Glass - Melodies For Saxophone - Melody 11 (tenor)
4. Philip Glass - Concerto For Saxophone - Quartet - Movement I
5. Trifonidis Free Orchestra - Chromatic Sixteen
6. Oluyemi Thomas, Sirone, Michael Wimberly - Mystic Way
7. Stan Getz  S'Wonderful
8. Louis Sclavis - Louis
9. Jeremiah Cymerman - Act VI
10. Trifonidis Free Orchestra - Free Warsaw
11. Philip Glass - Serra Pelada
12. Stan Getz - Parker 51
13. Oluyemi Thomas, Sirone, Michael Wimberly - Heavenly Wisdom
14. Trifonidis Free ORchestra - Playground
15. Stan Getz - The Song is You
16. Aldo Romano, Louis Sclavis, Henri Texier - Bob De Klipton
17. Aeroplane Trio - Lucky Loonie
18. Philip Glass - Mishima/Closing

The Trumps at Eszeweria (27.01)

The Trumps:

Ian Smith - trumpet
Ricardo Tejero - tenor sax, slide flute
Katarzyna Kuchnicka - trombone

guest: Adam Golicki - drums (2nd set only)

Eszeweria 27.01.2010

Although they all met each other playing in London Improvisers Orchestra, The Trumps are an international band  - with Ricardo coming originally from Portugal and Katarzyna from Poland. Free improv - connecting people :)

With an unusal line-up they obviously bring an uncommon palette of sounds to the table. First long piece   is mellow, merging all three horns together, sometimes, especially when extended techniques are involved and sonic experiments, making it hard to distinguish one from another. Nice flow of ideas, sounds coming from the distance, from some hidden space, players complementing one another. The new, or at least not so common in so often dead-serious free-improv music, is the sense of humour. At their most searching, probing strange sound territory, the trio sounds light, cartoonish even. Quite often when hearing a spirited sound-games I think of some Tom & Jerry fight sound fxs, swishes, swooshes, clicks and clacks and all kinds of those, the toyish sound of slide flute enhances that entertaining effect. (as John Cage said once - laughter is preferrable to tears; and it's funny looking around at the faces, audience members hiding their smile, not sure whethere it is ok to laugh or maybe this is supposed to be taken seriously)

The second track of the first set was supposed to be "short and loud", but, after initial fanfaric shouts, it turns deeply harmonic and melodic. Nice touch before the short pause.

The second set adds a drummer to the mix (snare drum, hi-hat, cowbell, couple of plates) and it changes drastically the sound texture of the music, allowing for some more conventional, more "jazz" playing with trombone providing often the bone bass structure to the proceedings - sometimes with a robust, expansive shouts of the New Orleans traditional jazz (joined once by great, joyfull solo statement by Ian Smith). The music has more traditional, but no less inspiring feel to it and all players can establish more clearly their solo personality - with a jazz solo by Ricardo being my personal favourite - at one point he introduces a charming melody (during the concert I was sure it was a Monk's tune but now my mind is playing tricks on me and I can't find it) - and he plays it with gently, warm timbre, slowly building up, breaking loose, finishing up with muscular and vibrating tone.

That was a good, imaginative, and surprisingly accessible free-improv, played in front of 20 something strong audience, in a small room of Eszeweria. Maybe not an earth-shattering, mind-blowing or awe-inspiring but this was a very solid improvising performance - an achievement that could get easily undervalued. While I definitely invite you to look up and see those musicians if you have a chance, the most important thing I want to say is - there's no music like live music. Get up and go see some concerts this weekend! I know I'm going to :)

Oluyemi Thomas, Sirone, Michael Wimberly - Beneath Tones Floor [NoBusiness]

Beneath Tones Floor

Oluyemi Thomas - bass clarinet, flute, soprano, musette, percussion

Sirone - bass

Michael Wimberly - drums, percussion

NoBusiness Records 2010

To balance the content of last couple of reviews (big groups, orchestral compositions, string quartets etc) I jumped into the music of this improvising trio, and it's quite a big contrast.

This is free-jazz at its best. With fantastic musicianship throughout, with ideas flowing freely in and out, with the band members both reacting to one another and pushing each other forward, sometimes acting like three minds in one body. A journey, a mystical revelation, a metaphysical experience. 

Maciej Trifonidis Bielawski - Trifonidis Free Orchestra : ... be like a child ...[Slowdown]

...be like a child...

Trifonidis Free Orchestra:

Maciej Trifonidis Bielawski - tenor sax; 

Daniel Polkowski - alto sax; Ray Dickaty - tenor sax; Louis Nubiola - alto sax; Kamil Szuskiewicz - trumpet; Kacper Szroeder - trumpet; Piotr Janiec - tuba; Wojtek Traczyk - double bass; Pawel Szpura - drums

Slowdownrecords 2009

Another big group, my favourite position in the slowdownrecords catalogue - not really surprising if You notice the 'free' word both in the band's name and in this blog's title. While still a set of composed pieces this one allows much more room for improvisation and brings You also the most balanced instrumental line-up - with 2 tenors, 2 altos, 2 trumpets, a tuba and the rhythm section.

Maciej Trifonidis Bielawski - Downtown Project / Tricphonix Street Band [Slowdown]

Maciej Trifonidis Bielawski could be known to some of You as the bass player in Horny Trees trio - clarinet-bass-drums band led by Pawel Szamburski which released its first cd on Kilogram Records - Mikolaj Trzaska's label. But he's also a multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, working in and leading his own projects in very different musical enviroments, from raw freejazz improvisation (would love to hear his upcoming trio concert with Pawel Szpura and Ksawery Wojcinski - rhythm section from Hera) up to large groups with strings, accordions, brass, horns, playing mostly composed, strictly arranged music, balancing classical and popular influences (the biggest of those - Trifonidis Orchestra - is 16 men strong). His recent releases on his own Slowdownrecords label testify to his vast talents and multiple skills. And while I'm not that big a fan of such orchestral ventures, the sonic richness those can offer and many of the simply charming melodies he delievers are definitely not to be missed because of such a prejudice.

so here are some thoughs about two  recent albums, both big groups, first one clearly outside the jazz genre, the second one mixing it with all kinds of popular influences. The best is yet to come as the third review will be posted (most probably) tomorrow.

Jeremiah Cymerman - Under a Blue Grey Sky [Porter]

Under a Blue Grey Sky

Olivia De Prato - violin

Jessica Pavone - viola

Christpher Hoffman - cello

Tom Blancaforte - bass

Jeremiah Cymerman - composition, electronics

Porter Records 2010

With a couple concerts of Jeremiah Cymerman coming this week I decided to gave this one a few closer listenings, never mind it doesn't exactly fit the blog's profile (meaning it's most definitely not jazz). And I can definitely say that this is a very rewarding record, even if it takes some time getting into it. With string quartet and electronic treatments (subtle ones) this one takes You into a sonic world that is rich and deep, both classical and forward-thinking. 

Jazz Alchemist waits for You - another monday 8pm CET

At this time the playlist is not yet ready but I'm sure of some of the ingredients:
-some pieces from recently reviewed Luc Houtkamp trio cd.
-some music from Jeremiah Cymermans' cd released on Porter Records (as Jeremiah is playing a couple of gigs in Poland next week)
-songs by Chlopcy Kontra Basia band which played a great concert recently, about which here.
and there's a lot of birthdays to celebrate - Julius Hemphill will definitely appear but there's a long list of artists who should be mentioned somehow (birthdays of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Etta James, Aki Takase, Bobby Hutcherson, Derek Bailey, Ahmed Abdul-Malik and others all in the next week).

Tune in at 8PM (CET) to www.radiofrycz.pl and find my facebook profile to chat while the music plays.
Detailed tracklist will appear in this very post after the program. As usual.

Julius Hemphill

1. Antonio Carlos Jobim & Ellis Regina - Waters of March (Antonio's birthday on 27th)
2. Julius Hemphill Sextet - Otis' Groove (Jiulius' birthday today)
3. Chlopcy Kontra Basia - Oj Tak
4.  Ahmed Abdul-Malik - The Hustlers (Ahmed's birthday 30th)
5. Julius Hemphill - Savannah Suite (for cello, flute, percussion, with Erik Friedlander, Marty Ehrlich, Pheeroan AkLaff)
6. Jeremiah Cymerman - Act I (from "Under a blue grey sky" review will be posted tomorrow)
7. Luc Houtkamp - State Street Blues (from "Luc Houtkamp in Chicago")
8. Derek Bailey - Three Pieces for Guitar (Derek's birthday on 29th)
9. Derek Bailey - What it is (with Jamaladeen Tucuma and Calvin Weston)

Ahmed-Abdul Malik with Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane

10. Julius Hemphill Sextet - Floppy
11. Chlopcy Kontra Basia - Mam ja Męża
12. Julius Hemphill - Dogon A.D.
13. Luc Houtkamp - Who is Claude McLin
14. Jeremiah Cymerman - Act VI
15. Ahmed Abdul-Malik - Waikida Hena
16. Chlopcy Kontra Basia - Tomasz
17. Julius Hemphill Sextet - The Answer

for something a bit different - Chlopcy Kontra Basia duo - Eszeweria 20.01.11

Chlopcy Kontra Basia (duo)

Only the oldest readers will remember the last 'about a concert' post - it's been long time indeed (40 days), a difficult experience to addicts like me, to go without any live music.

This was another young polish group singing polish songs* (surprisingly not an obvious thing) and once again much of the charm remains in lyrics so this time I decided to write the proper review in polish, if You speak this strange language You can find it on impropozycja or magnetoffon (here and here). For those who don't just a quick resume on this blog.

Chlopcy Kontra Basia (usually a trio with perscussion, bass, voice/occasional clarinet, this time without the percussion guy) is a young group that merges in a very surprising way jazz groove (catchy, infectious, simple and effective) with folk melodies and witty, folk culture-inspired, lyrics, usually a rhyming story with a surprising point to it. You'd never have thought that folk music could be so sexy (lyrics play a huge part to it, but also the theatrics and dance movement, and naturally also the music - sometimes getting into melodic trans, more often quite danceable).

The only name I can think of to describe it better is Iva Bittova, who, at her most accessible, does a bit similar thing. And while there's still a long road ahead of this young band, the youthful energy and sense of humour they bring to the stage, combined with the obvious talents displayed make for a great promise.

You can check some songs on group's MySpace page and I will also put them on the next radio playlist. Hope You'll like them.

Chłopcy Kontra Basia (duo) – Eszeweria 20.01.2011

Barbara Derlak – vocal, clarinet
Marcin Nenko – double bass

*I'm referring to this post

Luc Houtkamp - Luc Houtkamp in Chicago [Entropy]

Luc Houtkamp - tenor saxophone
Kent Kessler - double bass
Michael Zerang

Entropy Stereo 1999

While free-jazz may seem to be all about surprise, even the most radical fans have a list of favourite musicians and it's easier to stick with the safe choices - players that You know can deliver what You want to hear. But then one uses the oldest method available to jazz fans if they want to hear more of their favourite thing - checking out some guys who are playing with guys who played with THE guy on Your list. Like in: I don' know this  band but there's a musician who did something together with this guy who played with Miles Davis. What sometimes can be a misleading marketing trick (happens also in jazz world) does quite often work as the most effective method of finding new names and great music that could otherwise go unnoticed.

What I really want to say is that I've never heard about Luc Houtkamp before, but when one plays with Kent Kessler and Michael Zerang, and You can find Ken Vandermark's liner notes inside*, it's good enough recommendation for me.

Mikolaj Trzaska Ircha Clarinet Quintet feat. Joe McPhee - Lark Uprising [Multikulti]

Ircha Quintet:

Joe McPhee - alt clarinet

Mikolaj Trzaska - alt & bass clarinet

Waclaw Zimpel - bass clarinet, clarinet, tarogato

Pawel Szamburski - clarinet, bass clarinet

Michal Gorczynski - bass clarinet

Multikulti 2010

Imagine a foggy night at the sea, and the sound ships sirens emerging from the silence and the darkness,  five of them, calling each other out, responding to voices coming from all the directions. Finding a freindly waters, where they can exchange some personal stories, with the listening choir commenting on those all the time. They reach an agreement and start singing together (absolutely stunning and oh so peacefull harmonies in the middle of the track) and then move back and forward between the solo narration, duos and the entire choir parts, with everyone finding a role to play and never looking for a front spot. That is how this albums starts on "Ant-hill Builder".

new URL

I'm glad You made it this far - You know already that the blog changed its URL address, please pass the word to any other parties interested :)
If You linked to the blog or any particular post (You have my eternal gratitude for that) please update the link.
Aside from the URL and the slight adjustment to the blog's title nothing else has changed.

Aeroplane Trio (JP Carter, Russel Scholberg, Skye Brooks) - Naranja Ha [Drip Audio]

Naranja Ha

Aeroplane Trio:

JP Cartet - trumpet

Russell Scholberg - bass, saw, thumb piano

Skye Brooks - drums

Drip Audio 2010

With piano trio and sax trio being probably the most popular line-ups in  jazz music, one could expect that a trio led by a trumpet (an instrument commonly associated primarily with jazz genre) would be much more of a common thing, while the fact is that a group like that remains relatively rare (Stef Gijssels compiles a nice list to be found here).

That being said, this one makes a nice addition to category. While the trio has been playing together for some years now, this is their first official release and showcases both matured group interplay and fresh attitude (which made me put them in the 'newcomer band' top3 in my votes for El Intruso Poll 2010). And it both delivers and promise more good music coming from this group, even if it as uncertain what path will they follow - as this is a very much an album of two faces.

Ivo Perelman & Brian Willson - The Stream of Life [Leo]

The Stream of Life

Ivo Perelman - tenor sax

Brian Wilson - drums

Leo Records 2010

Ivo Perelman released a couple of great records last year and with this one he made the last second jump to my El Intruso 2010 Poll votes on saxophone so I guess I should put some writing behind that vote. 

Sax - drums duos are easily among my favourites (beginning with Coltrane & Ali on "Interstellar Space", my first truly free listening experiene, the one that opened new both stellar and interstellar spaces in my mind). With just two instruments this is as simple as it gets, primal indeed - just kick and cry, rhytm and melody, and yet (or thus) it can go all ways and directions imaginable, with two instruments and two instrumentalists on full display, bare, without any possibility to hide from Your ears.

Jazz Alchemists tomorrow (Monday) at 8pm. Tune in for some punk-rocking jazz and else

I'd like to remind You all that tomorrow, like almost any given monday, Jazz Alchemist presents his playlist on www.radiofrycz.pl at 8 PM CET - 2 hours of music and my  blah-blah (with, luckily, much more of the first one and blah-blah done in polish). We will listen to some pieces from albums recently reviewed ("Kablys; Live at 11:20", "Barrel Fire", "Live at the Knitting Factory vol.1") as well as couple of others I'm planning to review during this week. Plus a happy birthday to one great Horace Parlan.

Tune in. During the program I'm available on facebook (just search 'jazzowy alchemik' and add it to Your friends list) and I'd love to chat with You.

Horace Parlan

The detailed tracklist (as always) will be published after/during the program, below in this very post.

1. Ivo Perelman & Brian Wilson - Agua Viva (review of this duo's recording will appear tomorrow on the bog)
2. Gordon Grdina Trio with Mats Gustafsson - 229 (review here)
3. Aeroplane Trio - Whitehorse (review in next few days)
4. Mina Agossi - Caravan (birthday of Juan Tizol on 22st Jan.)
5. Charles Mingus - Cryin' Blues (birthday of Horace Parlan on 19th. Jan)
6. Liudas Mockunas, Eugenijus Kanevicius and Dalius Naujokaitis - Broke (review here)
7. Lou Grassi PO Band with Marshall Allen - RePoZest (Lou Grassi's birthday on  ; review here)
8. Mikolaj Trzaska Ircha Quinet feat Joe McPhee - Sleeping Deep in the Moss (review to be posted this week)
9. Archie Shepp & Horace Parlan - Amazing Grace
10. Liudas Mockunas, Eugenijus Kanevicius and Dalius Naujokaitis - Hooked
11. Gordon Grdina Trio with Mats Gustafsson - Barrel Fire
12. Mikolaj Trzaska Ircha Quinet feat Joe McPhee - Swampquake
 13. Aeroplane Trio - Callejuela

Gordon Grdina Trio with Mats Gustafsson - Barrel Fire [Drip Audio]

Barrel Fire

Gordon Grdina - guitar, oud

Mats Gustafsson - saxophone

Tommy Babin - bass

Kenton Loewen - drums

Drip Audio 2010

Here's another one for those amongst You who like it when free jazz rocks. And it rocks hard. With music getting pretty crazy, but always driving forward thanks to the relentless work of rhythm section.

This is pretty simple and fun, always very sincere (punk is not dead :). Gordon shredds his guitar strings a lot, gritty bass and drums chase each other and saxophone sharpens the raw edges. "Burning Bright" features a great theme that somehow reminds me of Ayler's march, and it serves well as driving vehicle for the ensemble improvisation. "229" after a short percussion intro and a fast, rhythmic, punk guitar-riff turns to sax trio setting, with the rhythmic section providing a hard swinging like hell backbone! (check the crazy pace of bass walking), riff comes back again and Mats backs off leaving space for Gordon and a fiery solo. His sound on guitar is quite intriguing, bit like classic swing guitar with a lot of distortion to it and he puts some nice twists into speeding lines. Track ends with bass solo (nice drive to it), which ends up suddenly, quite inconclusive*.