RELATIVE PITCH CD SALE - Nearly Half of Their Great Catalogue:
$10 each - July 26th - August 4th:
The Relative Pitch label is run by two close friends, Mike Panico and Kevin Reilly. While a number of labels and distributors have ton under over the past couple of years, Relative Pitch has thrived by releasing Creative Music that they believe in and promote. Both Kevin and Mike have their finger on the pulse of what makes Creative Music important to our collective sanity in times of the many dark currents sweeping over us. I have reviewed practically all fifty plus releases in their distinguished catalogue. Those reviews are reprinted in the second part of this list below.
We celebrate the music, musicians and founders of Relative Pitch Records with a big sale:
The 21 CDs listed below are now $10 each for the next week (until August 4th, 2017). That's $4 off of each one. All orders will ship in about 1 week when all of these sales disc are in stock.
Here's that list:
CHRIS ABRAHAMS & MAGDA MAYAS - Gardener (Relative Pitch 1011; USA)
CD $10
AB BAARS / IG HENNEMAN / INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - Perch Hen Brock & Rain - Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere (Relative Pitch 1051; USA)
CD $10
MICHAEL BISIO With KIRK KNUFFKE / ART BAILEY / MICHAEL WIMBERLY - Accortet (Relative Pitch 1040; USA)
CD $10
JOHN BUTCHER / TORSTEN MULLER / DYLAN VAN DER SCHYFF//WAY OUT NORTHWEST - The White Spot (Relative Pitch 1006; USA)
CD $10
TAYLOR HO BYNUM/JOHN HEBERT/GERALD CLEAVER]/BOOK OF THREE - Continuum (2012) (Relative Pitch 1012; USA)
CD $10
MICHEL DONEDA - Everybody Loves Michel Doneda! : Solo Saxophone (Relative Pitch 1027; USA)
CD $10
PAUL FLAHERTY & RANDALL COLBOURNE - Ironic Havoc (Relative Pitch 1019; USA)
CD $10
TOMAS FUJIWARA TRIO [With BRANDON SEABROOK/RALPH ALESSI] - Variable Bets (Relative Pitch 1028; USA)
CD $10
FRANK GRATKOWSKI/PHILLIP GREENLIEF/JON RASKIN//FPR - All at Once (Relative Pitch 1015; USA)
CD $10
INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - And Other Desert Towns (Relative Pitch 1018; USA)
CD $10
JEMEEL MOONDOC & HILLIARD GREENE - Cosmic Nickelodeon (Relative Pitch 1047; USA)
CD $10
JOE MORRIS / AGUSTI FERNANDEZ / NATE WOOLEY - From The Discrete To The Particular (Relative Pitch 1008; USA)
CD $10
KEIR NEURINGER / RAFAL MAZUR - Diachronic Paths (Relative Pitch 1046; USA)
CD $10
EVAN PARKER/SYLVIE COURVOISIER - Either or And (Relative Pitch 1024; USA)
CD $10
MATANA ROBERTS - Always (Relative Pitch 1036; USA)
CD $10
MATTHEW SHIPP TRIO MICHAEL BISIO/WHIT DICKEY - Root of Things (Relative Pitch 1022; USA)
CD $10
MATTHEW SHIPP CHAMBER ENSEMBLE With MICHAEL BISIO/MAT MANERI - The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael (Relative Pitch 1035; USA)
CD $10
CATHERINE SIKORA - Jersey (Relative Pitch 1049; USA)
CD $10
BIRGIT ULHER & LEONEL KAPLAN - Stereo Trumpet (Relative Pitch 1030; USA)
CD $10
ALEX WARD / ROBERTO SASSI / SANTIAGO HORRO / JEM DOULTON //FOREBRACE - Steeped (Relative Pitch 1052; USA)
CD $10
JACK WRIGHT/BEN WRIGHT - As If Anything Could Be The Same (Relative Pitch 1017; USA)
CD $10
**********
RELATIVE PITCH CD SALE - Nearly Half of Their Great Catalogue:
$10 each - July 28th - August 4th: The Sales List with Reviews:
CHRIS ABRAHAMS & MAGDA MAYAS - Gardener (Relative Pitch 1011; USA) Magda Mayas is a pianist living in Berlin. Developing a vocabulary utilizing both the inside as well as the exterior parts of the piano, using preparations and objects, she explores textural, linear and fast moving sound collage. Alongside the piano, Mayas has recently been performing on a Clavinet/Pianet, an electric piano from the 60s with strings and metal chimes, where she engages with noise and more visceral sound material, equally extending the instrumental sound palette using extended techniques and devices. Similarly, some of pianist Abrahams' music is experimental in nature. Although he is known to many differnt audiences for many styles of music, including soundtracks, his membership in the decades-old minimalist/hypnotic improvisational trio The Necks usually comes first to mind. Abraham's own performance at the Room40 Tenth Anniversary in London was labeled "ambient", "free-jazz" and "industrial noise" by (UK) Financial Times reviewer, Mike Hobart. Now witness the exciting sounds that come from too explorative masters of the keys from opposite sides of the world in their first meeting - no to be forgotten!
CD $10
AB BAARS / IG HENNEMAN / INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - Perch Hen Brock & Rain - Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere (Relative Pitch 1051; USA) Featuring Ab Baars on tenor sax, clarinet & shakuhachi, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano saxes and Tom Rainey on drums. Last year we received a great disc from the quartet: Luc Ex/Ingrid Laubrock/Ab Baars/Hamid Drake called ‘Assemblee'. Around the same time another quartet emerged featuring two couples: Ig Henneman & Ab Baars (Netherlands-based) and Ingrid Laubrock & Tom Rainey (NY-based). Ms. Hennenman plays viola, composes and runs the Wig label while Mr. Baars is a longtime member of the ICP Orchestra & leads several of his own bands. Ms. Laubrock is the current rising star saxist of the Downtown Scene, also leads several bands and is a truly fine ever-evolving composer. I caught Ms. Laubrock three nights in a row last week (early July, 2016) in the solo, duo & trio settings and was knocked by each performance. Mr. Rainey reigns as one of the finest & most distinctive drums in NY, his trio (with Ingrid & Mary Halvorson) is just incredible! This disc was recorded at the Tampere Jazz Happening (festival) in Finland in November of 2014 and the sound is superb. Since both couples have worked together in duos and larger settings for so long, we can hear the way they converse in a most engaging way, exchanging ideas, lines flowing back and forth throughout. There are sections when both Ms. Laubrock and Mr. Baars play some multiphonic high note interaction which is quite breathtaking. Ms. Laubrock has been playing more soprano sax in recent years and her playing is getting better & better. The interaction between her soprano sax and Ms. Henneman's viola is especially riveting. There are a number of great viola players currently around (like Jessica Pavone & Charlotte Hug), however Ig Henneman remains one of the best. She is in especially fine form here, weaving her lines amongst the two spirited reeds and organic, distinctive drumming of Mr. Rainey. This is a most extraordinary quartet, one of the finest improvising units of the year. We can only hope that this fine quartet will find their way here in the near future. In the meantime, check this dynamite disc! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
MICHAEL BISIO With KIRK KNUFFKE / ART BAILEY / MICHAEL WIMBERLY - Accortet (Relative Pitch 1040; USA) Featuring Kirk Knuffke on cornet, Art Bailey on accordion, Michael Bisio on contrabass & compositions and Michael Wimberly on drums. It has been a while since the great bassist, Michael Bisio, has released anything as a bandleader, aside from several duos with Matt Shipp & Joe McPhee and trios many others. I recall enjoying his previous discs as a leader on CIMP, Silkheart and Not Two. For this disc, Mr. Bisio has put together a fine, unique quartet with a cornet/accordion frontline, perhaps a first. You can tell that Mr. Bisio put a good deal of time into composing and playing this music as it is rich in detail and thoughtfully constructed. The cornet and accordion are a perfect and sound wonderful together. "Giant Chase" has Mr. Bisio's powerful bass at the center, pushing the rest of the quartet with tight, propulsive energy. With equal part free and parts written, it is the bass that keeps everyone in focus. There two string duos on this disc, both stand out. The first, "Livin' Large" for accordion and drums has some dynamic interplay between the two young masters. Art Bailey is a fine pianist whose trio disc from last year was an under-recognized gem. He is also one of the best accordionists in town as well, considering the Downtown Scene has several strong ones (Ted Reichman, Andrea Parkins & Will Holhouser). Mr. Bailey's long solo on "Charles Too!" is extraordinary, going through a series difficult rapids. My favorite piece is called "Sun Mystery Ra History", and it is filled with suspense. The accordion and cornet play tight interwoven lines along with Bisio's strummed drones and Mr. Wimberly's great mallet work. Once this disc ended I wanted to play it again immediately as I know there were more layers of great ideas going on that I missed the first and second times I heard it. This might be Michael Bisio's finest moment, it will be difficult to do any better. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
JOHN BUTCHER / TORSTEN MULLER / DYLAN VAN DER SCHYFF//WAY OUT NORTHWEST - The White Spot (Relative Pitch 1006; USA) John Butcher on tenor & soprano saxes, Torsten Muller on contrabass and Dylan Van Der Schyff on drums. UK reeds explorer John Butcher has a scientific approach to playing his two saxes, always measuring (internally) the way certain sounds are heard in different parts of the room or in assorted outdoor spaces, as well as the effect they have on listeners (like us). Hence, Butcher doesn't quite sound like anyone else, just himself. Since is always searching for like-minded sonic explorers, he often doesn't work in a regular context, like a rhythm team. This is the second disc with the same rhythm team so he must sense some kind of kindred spirits. Both bassist Torsten Muller and drummer Dylan Van Der Schyff live in Vancouver, not to far from where this was recorded in Seattle, WA. Although Torsten Muller was originally based in Europe, working with Gunter Christmann, Lol Coxhill and Paul Rutherford, he has worked with Mr. Van Der Schyff in a few previous sessions. Mr. Van Der Schyff remains one of the busiest drummers in Vancouver, playing on dozens of sessions. This is a radio session and the sound is clean, warm and carefully recorded. On the opening cut, Butcher's sax starts off liner an ocean liner cutting through the fog while Torsten's bowed bass creates an eerie undertow. Since all three members of this trio deal with extended or unusual techniques, it is often difficult to tell them apart. They often create very similar textures. Evan Parker-like bent bird calls is just one of the more recognizable sounds that I hear at different points on this disc. This music often deals with almost microscopic changes in texture, the closer you listen the more you hear certain nuances which are then altered and thus mutated into other odd sounds. From several vantage points, this is a marvelous disc that I keep coming back to since I hear something different each time I put it on. There seems to be quite a variety of alien beings or strange sea creatures just below the surface. Utterly fascinating and consistently absorbing! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
MICHEL DONEDA - Everybody Loves Michel Doneda! : Solo Saxophone (Relative Pitch 1027; USA) Featuring Michel Doneda on solo soprano sax. When the album (his second), 'Everybody Digs Bill Evans' was first released in 1959, Bill Evans had just recorded for Miles Davis' 'Kind of Blue' album and was not very well known as of yet. Hence the title was rather ironic. The title and cover of this disc by Michel Doneda is equally similar and rather tongue-in-cheek. While Mr. Doneda is well regarded by his peers on the soprano sax (Evan Parker, John Butcher & Dave Liebman), he is not really well known outside of a small circle of music freaks or afficianados who volunteer at The Stone and sit in the front row as often as is possible. I, myself, am a big fan of Michael Doneda, who I have had the opportunity to hear live on several occasions (Victoriaville & the Vision Fest). Very few reeds players work with the soprano sax only, except for Steve Lacy, Lol Coxhill and San Newsome, and even fewer play solo soprano sax sets. I recall watching Mr Doneda play his soprano with the bell down to the floor as a mute and getting unique sounds from it. The sounds he gets here are equally odd and distinctive. This disc has a focused, rather Erstwhile sound, as each sound is minutely crafted. The air passing through the sax, bits of acoustic feedback, notes stretched out and manipulated only slightly show how much care was put into this recording. This is music that breathes and expands in a most natural way. Is that the tea kettle whistling in the distance? Is this music or just sounds on display? The terminology doesn't really matter since the outcome is so strong and evocative. Like watching another world under the lens of a microscope. Marvelous. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
PAUL FLAHERTY & RANDALL COLBOURNE - Ironic Havoc (Relative Pitch 1019; USA) Featuring Paul Flaherty on tenor & alto sax and Randall Colbourne on drums. Mr. Flaherty and Mr. Colbourne have been playing together in different formations for more than 25 years and have some forty records that they are on. In all of that time, they've done just one short tour. I've seen and always dug Flaherty live at some half dozen sets in New York and up at Victo with Thurston Moore although I've never caught Mr. Colbourne live. This appears to be al least their fifth album as a duo. This is one strong, solid duo! They take their time and playing tentatively at first, building in intensity as they go. Mr. Flaherty has a unique way of bending and twisting his notes, centering in certain notes and then expanding upon their sound. There is a piece here called "Bstry" which is a sort of free ballad, floating and rather hypnotic. There is another piece with a great title, "Revenge of the Roadkill" which conjures up some strange images if you've ever had to deal with this sort of thing when traveling by car. The title of this disc is "Ironic Havoc" which seems apt since the music is free without any sort of over-the-top eruptions. There is an excellent dialogue going on here, a most natural unfolding of events. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
TOMAS FUJIWARA TRIO [With BRANDON SEABROOK / RALPH ALESSI] - Variable Bets (Relative Pitch 1028; USA) Featuring Tomas Fujiwara on drums, Brandon Seabrook on guitar and Ralph Alessi on trumpet. After Mary Halvorson, guitar & banjo player, Brandon Seabrook, is the next downtown picker to consistently blow minds and pull off many amazing solos! All three of these men come from much different sets of circumstances, yet they sound like they have been playing together for a long time. Another surprisingly solid debut from the swell Relative Pitch folks. - BLG
CD $10
FRANK GRATKOWSKI / PHILLIP GREENLIEF / JON RASKIN // FPR - All at Once (Relative Pitch 1015; USA) Featuring Frank Gratkowski on alto sax & B-flat clarinet, Phillip Greenlief on alto & tenor saxes and Jon Raskin on alto & bari saxes. Sax trios are certainly rare and I can't think of too many recordings by them except for a Braxton's 'For Trio' form the seventies. This trio matches German born, Amsterdam-based saxist Frank Gratkowski with two West Coast greats: Phillip Greenlief ( who runs the Evander label) with Jon Raskin (founding member of Rova Sax Qt). All three of these musicians have worked with other saxists more often than most other reeds players. Instead of playing an all-improvised date, each of the three members contributed pieces. This makes for a more diverse, challenging and focused disc. "Three Vegetables for Double Happiness" sounds like a title for a Chinese dish but sounds like one of those difficult, jump-cutting pieces that keeps changing throughout, a work that Rova so often explores. Each piece explores different themes, constructions and combinations of saxes. Solo sections into duos and trios, back and forth and unpredictable where they will end up. When one has played sax for as long as three have, there are many sounds and extended techniques (wind sounds, tonguing techniques, etc.) that are employed and utilized in a variety of ways. The Relative Pitch label remains at the cutting edge of of New Music, always exploring and never resting. Each and every release has been a treasure worth spending time with again and again and... - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
INGRID LAUBROCK / TOM RAINEY - And Other Desert Towns (Relative Pitch 1018; USA) Featuring Ingrid Laubrock on tenor & soprano sax and Tom Rainey on drums. Besides being a couple, Ingrid and Tom, are part of another select Downtown family of musicians who work together often in many different combinations. The family includes: Mary Halvorson, Kris Davis, Tim Berne, Matt Mitchell, Ralph Alessi, Chris Speed, Ches Smith... I caught this duo play two phenomenal sets last year at JACK to just a handful of serious fans. Another jewel in the Relative Pitch treasure chest! - BLG
CD $10
JEMEEL MOONDOC & HILLIARD GREENE - Cosmic Nickelodeon (Relative Pitch 1047; USA) Featuring Jemeel Moondoc on alto sax and Hilliard Greene on acoustic bass. After a series of a dozen and a half discs on labels like Eremite, Soul Note and Ayler, Downtown sax giant, Jemeel Moondoc has slowed down with releases over the past few years. This is Mr. Moondoc's third disc for Relative Pitch which includes a another fine duo with Connie Crothers. For this session, Moondoc selected one of Downtown's finest bassists: Hill Greene, who he has worked with on a previous discs for CIMP and last one for Relative Pitch. “Blues for Katie†opens and is a wonderful, laid back bluesy tune that feels just right. There is a piece called “Spiritual Medley†which includes “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot†and “Wade in the Waterâ€. It starts with a bowed bass solo which is most stirring before Moondoc's equally touching alto comes in to join him. All of the music here sound like it is coming directly from the heart and soul of each member of the duo. There is something poignant and tasty going here, two great musicians digging in and telling a righteous story. As we get older, we realize how much we are all human and share a certain living spirit with all who listen to what we have to say or sing. Beautiful and haunting. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
JOE MORRIS / AGUSTI FERNANDEZ / NATE WOOLEY - From The Discrete To The Particular (Relative Pitch 1008; USA) With Joe Morris on acoustic guitar, Agusti Fernandez on piano and Nate Wooley on trumpet. This is an all acoustic session, recorded at Firehouse 12 in New Haven, Ct. Although both Joe Morris & Agusti Fernandez and Joe Morris & Nate Wooley have previous duo discs out on the Riti and Clean Feed labels, this is their first trio recording and it is excellent. All three of these musicians are gifted, unique improvisers who consistently challenge themselves in new situations. Over the past few years Spanish pianist Agusti Fernandez has been turning in a variety of diverse situations: a great trio with Barry Guy & Raymon Lopez, with Peter Evans & Mats Gustafsson and with John Edwards & Mark Sanders. The first thing I notice about this disc is how well it is recorded, close mic'd and perfectly balanced to capture every nuance. The interaction between the piano and trumpet on the first piece is incredible: quick spiraling lines spinning together tightly and intensely. When Joe joins them on guitar he also sends out waves of fast fractured licks. The pace and nonstop ideas are exhilarating. Faster and higher and together as one amazing spirit/force. There moments when two or all three musicians are playing at the same superhuman tempo and it sounds as if the locking together the way many of the fusion bands played in the mid-seventies, although here there is no grandstanding. The pace slows down for "As Expected" so that the trio take their time to build from a sparse start. Although it sounds abstract or free, there is a sense of connected balance, notes being selectively woven together into an organic tapestry of fascinating patterns. When things slow down on "Bilocation" it is as if there is a sense of calm beneath the surface, like a ballad slowly unfolding. This trio seems to have developed their own language or way of communicating ideas. On "Hieratic" I hear a variety of emotions from lonely to brittle and on the verge of exploding before settling down again. Cartoon characters running or dancing to other humorous or unexpected turns of events. An immensely dynamic excursion from the beginning to the end. Yeah! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
CD $10
KEIR NEURINGER / RAFAL MAZUR - Diachronic Paths (Relative Pitch 1046; USA) Featuring Keir Neuringer on alto sax and Rafal Mazur on acoustic bass guitar. Philly-based saxist Keir Neuringer has an impressive solo sax disc out on New Atlantis from a couple of years back, as well as a couple of earlier duo discs with Karin Hellqvist and another with Rafal Mazur (both Polish musicians, where this disc was recorded). Although Mr. Neuringer is a master of circular breathing, here he balances his lines well with Mr. Mazur's bass, both taking their time to blend their lines around one another in a most conversant way. The interplay here is often tight and intricate as both musicians are so well-matched. I like that these two know ow to lay back and let them simmer quietly. slowly and softly burning as they evolve. There is swell woven tapestry going on here, calm at the center yet occasionally spinning more quickly. Eventually Neuringer's sax starts to move into a new area of bent notes which vibrate and mutate in ways not so easy to explain but seem to have a way of turning our perceptions inside out. These are truly magical moments like entering another alien world world which we somehow recognize but is not that familiar, an alternate universe of sorts. Be patient with this disc since it takes some time to get use to the way things move and change and leave us somewhere else. Towards the end of this disc, things get even more extreme and intense. It sounds as if the gods were angry about something we did and it is now time to pay for the consequences. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, Inner Space Explorer at DMG
CD $10
EVAN PARKER/SYLVIE COURVOISIER - Either or And (Relative Pitch 1024; USA) Featuring Evan Parker on tenor & soprano saxes and Sylvie Courvoisier on piano. This disc was recorded in a studio on the day (9/24/13) after this duo played at The Stone. I do remember that set since it was so extraordinary. Since moving to New York, Ms. Courvoisier has become thee pianist to watch as she keeps on getting better. Last week at the Village Vanguard, I caught Sylvie and Mark Feldman play a great set (9/2/14) during the Masada Marathon. Sylvie took a couple of solos that were astonishing, I thought that the piano was going to explode from her intensity. Mr. Parker and Ms. Courvoisier also make an incredible duo as they match wits, pushing each other higher and higher. The balancing act here is extraordinary, out and further out, sparse to intense, calm to explosive. Sylvie remains the master of playing mysterious sounds inside the piano and watching her do it live is always a revelation. She strums the strings quietly at the start of "Oare" with Mr. Parker slowly spinning his own web on top. As Sylvie rubs and alters the piano strings with assorted objects, Evan also bends his notes inside-out in his own distinctive way. Sylvie is a quick study and knows when to add or change her approach to match whatever sonic area Evan focuses on. She is also in charge on half of these pieces as well, coaxing Mr. Parker into some unexpected areas. Her somber playing at the beginning of "Stonewall", has Parker playing in an equally impressionistic way, both players sailing around one another gracefully. As the piece progresses, the tempo and intensity increase to boiling point, sounding quite triumphant towards the end. This is one of the finest, most exciting and most spirited of all duo discs I've heard in some time. This duo is not playing here during Mr. Parker's current residency but no matter since this disc captures their essence so well. Check it now! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
MATANA ROBERTS - Always (Relative Pitch 1036; USA) Featuring Matana Roberts on solo alto sax. This superb disc was recorded in a darkened studio in Brooklyn and is one of tastiest gems of the year. Ms. Roberts closed her eyes and dug deep within to provide us with some sublime, heartfelt sonic medicine. This disc consists of two long "Untitled" pieces, both about 20 minutes. Ms. Roberts' tone is especially warm, each phrase thoughtfully constructed with jus a hint of real room reverb. The weight of the world seems to weigh on all of us, especially artists who then transform their feelings into something that reflects our plight. For me, this music is like a candle burning which can't be easily extinguished. In the center of the flame is hope for a better day. Ms. Roberts sounds like she is working with fragments of prayer-like melodies at times. Ms. Roberts does a beautiful job of telling a story here with her lone sax, creating characters and scenery as well. "Always" is one of today's most enchanting jewels. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
MATTHEW SHIPP TRIO MICHAEL BISIO/WHIT DICKEY - Root of Things (Relative Pitch 1022; USA) Featuring Matthew Shipp on piano & compositions, Michael Bisio on bass and Whit Dickey on drums. Over the past few years, Downtown's finest out/jazz pianist has been slowing down a bit and putting out one or two solo, duo or trio discs a year. This has made each disc special, a gem well worth waiting for. This is the third disc from this particular trio although they have also worked with fellow traveler Ivo Perelman. And this disc contains no covers, all originals by Mr. Shipp. The title track is first and is quite sublime, dreamy, like a web connecting or a cushion softly supporting us as we sink into a chair and calm down. "Jazz It" seems like an appropriate title since this piece does swing or groove with some infectious laid back energy. Mr. Dickey and Mr. Shipp have been working together for many years and were once part of the David S. Ware Quartet. They play together incredibly well, as does Mr. Bisio who also has been working with Mr. Shipp for a bit less time. All three have a common bond that one can hear in this music, as they sound like one united force, rising and falling, expanding and contracting together. The thing I like the most about this disc is that it has a more restrained, organic, perhaps mature calmness at the center. Although "Path" begins with unaccompanied bass, Mr. Bisio takes his time, his tone warm and inviting, building thoughtfully until Mr. Shipp's sublime piano enters, like a small parade of ghosts crawling through the graveyard. Mr. Dickey's restrained mallet-work is most enchanting here. On "Pulse Code", it is Whit Dickey's masterful drumming that kick things off with an inspired solo, melodic and filled with suspense, keeping the vibe throughout when the rest of the trio enters. The last piece begins with Mr. Shipp's piano weaving a nice web of restrained lines that coalesce into a more cerebral gem as it evolves. The 'Root of Things' is perhaps the Matt Shipp Trio's most enchanting disc yet! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
MATTHEW SHIPP CHAMBER ENSEMBLE With MICHAEL BISIO/MAT MANERI - The Gospel According to Matthew & Michael (Relative Pitch 1035; USA) This chamber trio features Matt Shipp on piano, Michael Bisio on acoustic bass and Mat Maneri on viola. Master pianist, Matt Shipp, has had a number of collaborators that he has worked with for many years, some earlier (like Willam Parker & Mat Maneri) and some more recent (like Michael Bisio). Mat Maneri has worked with Mr. Shipp on some dozen previous discs going back two decades. More recently Mr. Shipp has been working with Mr. Bisio on a half dozen duo and trio discs. This disc consist of a series of shorter pieces called "Chapters 1 - 15". The pieces do seem to be connected with a similar undercurrent vibe. There is a deep feeling of suspense going on here, often with Bisio's superb bass at the center. Mat Maneri is one of the most distinctive and challenging string players to emerge from the Downtown scene for the past two decades. He doesn't enter until a few chapters in, taking his time and finding his place amongst the two other strong forces. Mr. Shipp does call this group a chamber ensemble and that is what they sound like. The music is often stark and probing the depths of our collective imaginations. Mr. Bisio takes an amazing bass solo on "Chapter 7", ending with a great Mingus quote near the end. When the trio finally launch into hyperdrive about halfway through, it is just astonishing. Mr. Shipp produced this session himself and has done a marvelous job, the balance and recurring are just perfect. Is this the CD of the month?!?! You best believe it! - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
CATHERINE SIKORA - Jersey (Relative Pitch 1049; USA) Featuring Catherine Sikora on tenor sax. Whenever I want to find out about a new and often under-recognized musician, I contact Kevin Reilly to keep me informed. Kevin does a great job of supporting and quietly promoting dozens of musicians deserving of wider recognition. He also co-runs this, the Relative Pitch label, where can & does release discs by many a gifted and challenging musician. Mr. Reilly turned me on the Catherine Sikora, a mighty fine tenor saxist, who played at DMG on a couple of occasions (once with Vinny Golia & Ross Hammond), but has very few recordings. A half dozen as a duo or group member. The pieces here are relatively short so that nothing goes on for very long and all pieces sound succinct. “Ripped from the Headlines†is a lovely, calm sort of ballad, which opens and sets up a certain restrained mood. I like the way Ms. Cikora takes a note and stretches it carefully, never losing balance or the theme she has already set up. Ms. Sikora was a warm, enticing tone and slowly works her way into quicker cascading lines. It sounds like Catherine is telling stories or spinning modest tales, never screaming or erupting too forcefully. Ms. Sikora plays carefully and uses space just right. While listening to this disc I could hear the sound of a distant train and the fan in my kitchen window whirring, making the sax sound even better on top of that soft cushion of background sounds. Ms. Sikora's often lush tone reaches back to an older time/style which she occasionally pushed forward by bending certain notes, but never too much. There is something immensely charming about this disc which takes its time and warms our souls like fireplace on a cold winter's day. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
BIRGIT ULHER & LEONEL KAPLAN - Stereo Trumpet (Relative Pitch 1030; USA) Featuring Leonel Kaplan on trumpet (in the right channel) and Birgit Uhler on trumpet, radio, speaker & objects (left channel). The Positive Pitch label has a mission to seek out musicians who often break through barriers and confound expectations, no matter how known or little known they may be. Consider this trumpet duo. German trumpeter Birgit Uhler can be found on more than a dozen disc with collaborators like Gino Robair, Roger Turner, Damon Smith and Steve Hubback. I know Argentina-based trumpeter Leonel Kaplan from very few discs although he has worked with Axel Dorner, Nate Wooley and Audrey Chen. This disc deals with Erstwhile-like subtly, breath-like wind sounds and minute manipulations. Some of these sounds are harder to describe or figure out. Tapping on parts of the trumpet and/or holding a thin sheet of metal to use a mute (something I've seen Nate Wooley do at times) is what seems to be going on. What I find most interesting is that although I can't tell what is going on at times, the results are consistently engaging, somewhat disorienting and often breath-taking. This duo know how to create a sense of drama or suspense, altering the scenery as they go. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
ALEX WARD / ROBERTO SASSI / SANTIAGO HORRO / JEM DOULTON //FOREBRACE - Steeped (Relative Pitch 1052; USA) Featuring Alex Ward on clarinet & amplifier, Roberto Sassi on electric guitar, Santiago Horro on electric bass and Jem Doulton on drums. This disc was recorded live at Cafe Oto in London in February of 2016. British clarinetist and guitarist, Alex Ward, is difficult to pin down since we never know which instrument or direction he will deal with. The last two discs we've gotten in with Mr. Ward as a member were an acoustic trio with Duck Baker on guitar and a boisterous electric trio with Weasel Walter on drums. For a new project called Forebrace, Mr. Ward has organized a formidable electric quartet. Considering that I wasn't familiar with any of the other members of this quartet, I was knocked out nonetheless. “Hive†kicks things off with some powerful, gut-wrenching rocking guitar and smoking electric rhythm team. About half of these pieces were written by Mr. Ward with the others group improvs. The music is well-written and focused, showing off the different talents of all four embers of this quartet. I am not sure what to call this music, but it is some sort of rock/jazz hybrid. Tight, rambunctious and in-your-face with some of the most riveting clarinet soaring over the top that I've in recent memory. Even the improvised pieces are consistently strong, focused and sound partially written or directed. Guitarist Roberto Sassi is often a revelation here, adding loads of tight-knit lines under and along with Mr. Ward's expressive and unstoppable clarinet. Mr. Sassi does pull off a handful of great solos but it the way he plays that holds this colossal quartet together. In many ways this is a progressive quartet but without any of the bombast. This is yet another great surprise from the restless folks at Relative Pitch. - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG
CD $10
JACK WRIGHT/BEN WRIGHT - As If Anything Could Be The Same (Relative Pitch 1017; USA) Jack Wright plays sax and is a longtime pioneer of free music, traveling around around the world and across the states since the late seventies. He continually seeks out like-minded improvisers but known and little known, he is a truly restless spirit. Check this list of collaborators: Andrea Centazzo, Bhob Rainey, Greg Kelley, Nate Wooley, Michel Doneda, Joe McPhee and Tatsuya Nakatani. Jack plays here at DMG from time to time, so please check him out when you can. - BLG
CD $10