Johnson / Rempis / Abrams / Spencer / Cunningham
Harmattan
Aerophonic Records
“This one-off quintet grouping was featured as part of a month-long Tuesday night residency organized by saxophonist Dave Rempis and drummer Jeremy Cunningham at The Whistler in Chicago – a venue that’s become home to a broad array of musicians in the Chicago jazz scene. Each week in February 2019, the two curated a different quintet lineup featuring two horns, bass, and two drummers. Aside from the musicians featured on this recording, made during the second week of the residency, other musicians involved included Avreeayl Ra, Mars Williams, Katie Ernst, Quin Kirchner, Ayana Woods, and Tyler Damon.”
Rempis Percussion Quartet
The Long Haul
Aerophonic Records
“This live recording from 2011 by the longstanding working band The Rempis Percussion Quartet documents a period of work in between two previous releases - 2010's Montreal Parade, and 2013's Phalanx - the first release ever put out on Aerophonic Records! Here we find a band live onstage, and ready to roll for what had increasingly become a rare "hometown" performance after Flaten moved away from Chicago a few years earlier. Situated at the legendary Hideout, a warm Chicago venue that served as a home base every Wednesday night from 2006-2014 for the improvised music scene locally, nationally, and internationally, the band was comfortable, fired up, and ready to go for the occasion. We're very happy to present this previously undocumented era in the band's development for the first time.”
Kuzu
All Your Ghosts in One Corner
Aerophonic Records
“"But their ability to construct musical tension in an almost agonizing way reaches a new peak on All Your Ghosts In One Corner. Drawing on these musicians’ love for a range of weighty musical expression from doom metal to the deeply-rooted spirituality of saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, this record perfectly captures the depth of the abyss into which we faced. And yet this record isn’t about fear. Redemption is found in the life-affirming energy of these performances, which reflect a will to survive in the band’s committed focus and tenacity. These are spontaneous rituals performed to brace an entire community for the upcoming storm." - Aerophonic Records”
Evan Parker / Barry Guy / Paul Lytton
Nightwork
Marge
“"Nightwork: Live At The Sunset captures an amazing live performance in early 2010 from saxophonist Evan Parker, bassist Barry Guy, and percussionist Paul Lytton. The virtuosity and high communication level between these three improvisational masters is front and center for its two improvised pieces. There is a stark contrast in how the three work together in this trio versus the larger context of Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, creating a sound that appears brighter and more direct." -Mark Redlefsen, AllAboutJazz.com”
Evan Parker
Set
psi
“"It would have been a very tall ask for attention to the music of this living pantomime, had Parker and his ensemble not found a way to engage even the most skeptical mind—with which Lynn Margulis also had to contend in her halcyon days. Appreciative attention comes quick to Parker and his group's profound interpretation of a difficult theory on set for Lynn Margulis. Margulis may surely be pleased as well, from wherever she is listening." -Raul D'Gama Rose, AllAboutJazz.com”
Adam Linson Systems Quartet
Figures and Grounds
psi
“"Linson's aim to explore the range of possibilities at the intersection of jazz and computer music goes some way to being achieved; it still feels as if there are yet more possibilities to be explored. As an exemplar of the use of electronics and processing with a small improvising group, Figures and Grounds is a great success." -John Eyles, All About Jazz”
Ken Vandermark
Snapshots: Volume 2/Austria
Kilogram
“PREORDER for official release 8/30/2021 The initial plan for Snapshots was to record a sequence of 7” singles that would document a collection of “micro-improvisations.” On every album I would perform with each of the four instruments I use, releasing a new 45 at quarterly increments over the course of a year. One of my favorite expressions regarding creative activity is Richard Serra’s statement, “work comes out of work,” and that idea came directly into play when I considered my approach to the second installment of Snapshots. Before starting the work on volume 2, I began a duo project with Nate Wooley for the Superpang label. Since that process took place during COVID, it was necessary to create the music by sharing music files. Nate and I quickly realized that, because the material had to be created by overdubbing one track on top of another, it was possible to bounce files back and forth, using more than two parts for each piece, and with different organizational principles. While involved in the exchange with Nate, I started to think about the second edition of Snapshots. And, for the first time, I decided to create duo improvisations by overdubbing myself. The strategy was simple- I recorded two pieces of about 90 seconds on each instrument (abandoning one of them because it was musically unsuccessful), then I selected an alternative horn, listened to a track and recorded an improvisation with/against it. From these seven “duos,” four were selected to produce the most successful narrative across two sides of a 7” single. In closing, I’d like to mention how much certain artists from Austria have impacted my work, particularly over the course of the last decade. I’m dedicating the music on this recording to four of them. -Ken Vandermark, Chicago, July 16, 2021 ”
