As the second set at Spectrum on January 4 (following the trio of Kate Gentile, Brandon Seabrook, and Matt Mitchell that I reviewed yesterday), tenor saxophonist Anna Webber played “five short pieces.” In the course of her set, she demonstrated the many different forms her music can take. The first piece opened with high-pitched repetition
Mattin – Songbook #7 (Munster, 2019) [vinyl] Cecil Taylor – In Florescence (A&M, 1990) [vinyl] Ingrid Laubrock – Contemporary Chaos Practices (Intakt, 2018) William Parker Clarinet Trio – Bob’s Pink Cadillac (Eremite, 2001) William Parker – For Those Who Are, Still (AUM Fidelity, 2015) Liudas Mokunas – Hydro 2 (NoBusiness, 2018) Michael Foster, Katherine Young, Michael Zerang – Bind the Hand(s) that
Three idiosyncratic players, drummer Kate Gentile, guitarist and banjoist Brandon Seabrook, and pianist Matt Mitchell came together at Spectrum for an interesting set of music. All three musicians are composers and each contributed pieces to this collective unit. The ways that the three fit together in different ways throughout the night was the driving narrative
The New Experience is a music series at Hart Bar in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It’s aimed at giving audience members something each night that they have not experienced before. It features a variety of experimental and improvised music as well as edgy or avant-rock, hip hop, or punk, as well as video projections and a DJ
Since its earliest days on record, Hip Hop has not only taken inspiration from Jazz via sampling, it has quite literally plucked at its musical body, carrying aspects of Jazz’s DNA into the future. More recently, Jazz musicians have become adept at referencing the rhythmic tension as well as the stylistic and textural breadth that
Anyone who frequented Cornelia Street Cafe in recent years is aware of the tradition that arose with the Tom Rainey Trio playing the second to last night of the year. For each of the last eight years, an eager crowd gathered to hear one of New York’s most cutting-edge bands. Drummer and composer Tom Rainey has
Danish saxophonist Lotte Anker’s tour through New York in December was one of the highlights of the year and was the crescendo to four performances that she did, each with a different band, over the course of ten days. Her unique approach to her instrument pairs perfectly with the equally exploratory American pianist Craig Taborn
Bassist Adam Hopkins moved to New York in 2011 and played extensively as a sideperson in a range of innovative projects. In 2018, he launched his own label, Out of Your Head Records, while simultaneously releasing his debut record as a leader, Crickets. I had a chance to speak with Mr. Hopkins in January about
Chicago based composer, clarinetist and pianist, Angel Bat Dawid took the time to speak with me about her new album, The Oracle (International Anthem), which was released on February 8. Dawid’s spiritual collection of music takes you through the watery depths of travel, ancient and ancestral connections, and improvised composition led by the talented multi-instrumentalist.
Nate Wooley is one of the most thoughtful and interesting musicians working in New York. Battle Pieces makes daring new explorations into song structure, reinventing the relationships between members of an ensemble in a way that retains an alert sharpness during every live performance. Since the band formed for Anthony Braxton’s Tri-Centric Music Festival in 2014,
