Jozef Dumoulin Trio
Bee Jazz, 2011
Jozef Dumoulin/fender rhodes & other keyboards
Eric Thielemans/drums
TD/electric bass
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During the rehearsals and recording of this disc, in Paris, I was eating a lot of amazing cheeses, oysters, foie gras and escargot.
I doubt you can really hear it in the music, but what do I know. That said, I think Jozef has a sound like no other. He has a way of making the Rhodes feel alive, like
a drunk python that has better vision than you do. I mean, the guy plays Bach fugues backwards in quintuplets.
Who does that?? Maybe Zawinul could do it, I don't know. Do people eat python?
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Erik Friedlander
Skipstone Records, 2011
EF/cello
Doug Wamble/guitar
Mike Sarin/drums
TD/bass
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This is essentially the Broken Arm trio expanded to a quartet with Doug on slide guitar. The songs were inspired by Erik's sojourn in the Southern US and evoke 90 degree weather, porch swings and, for me anyway, Lisa Bonet cutting up a chicken. Once again, we recorded onto tape, and I can honestly hear the difference.
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Skirl Records, 2010
Chris Speed/tenor
Oscar Noriega/atlo, bass clarinet
Jim Black/drums
Trevor Dunn/bass
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The last time I was at Oscar's I had three vodkas with sanbitter and after knocking his tacos on the floor realized that I probably shouldn't drink vodka anymore. I think I do much better with Whiskey. These days I prefer Eagle Rare, but I don't buy it from the wine shop. Too expensive. My friend brings it down from Vermont where it's cheaper and tax-free. I'm kinda scared to go on the road with this band.
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Erik Friedlander
Skipstone Records, 2010
Jennifer Choi/violin
Erik Friedlander/cello
Sylvie Courvoisier/piano
Trevor Dunn/bass
Mike Sarin/percussion
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Originally premiered at The Contemporary Jewish Museum as part of their "Aleph-Bet Sound Project", these 50 Miniatures were inspired by the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, Nun. The piece was remixed and newly ordered for this release. I have a crush on Jenny Choi.
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Marika Hughes
DD Records, 2010
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I am totally honored to have been commissioned by Marika to write for her among other great composer/performers such as Charlie Burnham, Eyvind Kang, Carla Kihlstedt and Raz Mesinai. My 2 1/2 minute piece entitled "Singulus" is, in fact, the first chamber music of mine ever to be published.
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Pumpkin Pie Music, 2010
Brandon Valdivia/percussion
David Pell/trombone, euphonium
Erik Ross/sythesizer
Friendly Rich/kazoo, scream
Gregory Oh/toy piano, piano, harpsichord, cussing
Jeffrey Burke/bassoon, penny whistle
Julia Hambleton/clarinets
Kimberley Pritchard/accordion
Kristen Theriault/harp
Nichol S. Robertson/electric guitar
Sly Juhas/drums
TD/bass
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This is the first recording session in Canada I have ever done. It's the first time in probably 15 years that I've recorded with my Ken Lawrence fretless bass, the last time being Bungle's DV. And it's the first time in 20 years that I've played the music of Modest Mussorgsky, the last time being his opera Boris Godunov when I was in college.
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Suit of Lights
Visiting Hours,
2009
Joe Daron/vocals/keys
Arun Venkatesh/guitar/keys
TD/bass
James Kluz/drums
Dino Covelli/keys
Jamie Egan/trumpet/trombone/sax/flute
John Underwood/lead guitar
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You've never heard of Joe Darone, but I won't judge you for that mistake. He's a guy who writes music and releases it himself because he wants to. His latest is 40 minutes of mighty-fine pop music. Good hooks, a few Bowie-isms, deep, sardonic lyrics; You can find it here: www.suitoflights.com |
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New Mellow Edwards
Skirl Records, 2009
Curha/trombone
John Hollenbeck/drums
Chris Speed/clarinet/tenor sax
TD/bass
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Curtis returns with his second NME release on Skirl. This one features the slowly trudging "First Loser" dedicated to the guy who comes in 2nd place, a glimpse at Windsor Terrace graffiti wars in "Backfat vs. Fumi" and a cover of Sonic Youth's "Youth Against Fascism"
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Jamie Saft
Tzadik,
2009
Saft/guitar, bass, vocals, organs, etc
Dunn/bass
Mike Pride/drums
Dmitriy Shnaydman/drums
Bobby Previte/drums
Mr. Dorgon/vocals
Vanessa Saft/vocals
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Children of both sides are indoctrinated with libelous ideologies
at an institutional level and thus each successive generation
is marred by greater tragedy and violence.
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Skipstone
Records, 2008
Erik Friedlander/cello
Mike Sarin/drums
TD/bass
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This music was inspired by the great bassist from the '40s Oscar Pettiford who, after breaking his arm, started playing cello tuned in 4ths. Erik's take also draws upon the uneven phrasing and adventurous harmony of Herbie Nichols.
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Stars Like Fleas
Hometapes,
2008
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Technically this disc should be in the "guest" category as I only play on three tracks but this is one of my all-time favorite bands so I wanted to give it as much exposure as possible. Plus they taunted me and let the air out of my bicycle tires. I caved. A lot of people don't get this band; they don't know how to place them or categorize the music. They find it confusing. Critics who use phrases like "admittedly accomplished" are obviously ashamed to be critics. They feel guilty that something can be enjoyed without reason, or that some people have ideas that other people never have.
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Rune Grammofon, 2008
Raoul Björkenheim/guitar, viola da gamba
Ståle Storløkken/keyboards,electronics
Morgan Ågren/drums
Trevor Dunn/bass
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So this guy calls me up. He's says, I got this idea
see? I'm an artist, he says. A film-maker, he says.
So I say, let's do this right. See, I'm all about
having a good time, but hey, when I need some wurst
you gotta hook me up with Gunters. So anyway, I show
up in Stockholm and make a recording with three
amazing musicians. We all met for the first time as we
were setting up our gear. We made this record, then
went on tour for a week. What this has to do with a
film, or an installation, or sausage I may never know.
You might be able to figure it out if you go here:
http://www.myspace.com/boxmusicproject
or here:
http://www.boxmusicproject.net/ |
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Andrew D'Angelo Trio
Skirl Records,
2008
Andrew D'Angelo/alto sax, bass clarinet
Jim Black/drums
Trevor Dunn/bass
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These guys live around the corner from me so I can't
say anything nasty or else I'll be pelted with veggie
tacos and beer. This is all Andrew's original music
and spans several compositional years and styles
including free jazz, skronk, and chamber music. Is
"skronk" a style? Super fun record to make. High
energy. Mastered by fellow bassist Reuben Radding so
the low end is nice and robust. It was an honor to
make a record with these seasoned Brooklyn mainstays.
Stamp out homophobia!
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Rob Price Quartet
Gutbrain, 2007
Rob Price/guitar
Ellery Eskelin/tenor sax
TD/bass
Jim Black/drums
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Some music is so unpretentious and honest and unhindered
by too much direction or confused by a lack thereof
that, as a player, one is able to focus in a way that
simutaneously achieves a singular vision while being
informed by the whims of all demons, those of one's
own mind and those of fellow accomplices, which is
to say an orgy of ideas, a novel of influences, an
aged bottle of informants all flying in spontaneously
in an attempt to either bring you to orgasm or kill
you in the process and, indeed, there is little difference,
but that is only a thought that comes to me later,
never in the moment because in the moment there is
little thinking being done at all as if the mind is
separate from the being & the present moment is all
there is and in fact, its true, the present moment
IS all there is and if you can make heads or tails
of this run/on sentence then you should listen to this
music.
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Billy Martin
Tzadik, 2007
Jennifer Choi/violin Jill Jaffe/viola
Okkyung Lee/cello
TD/bass
Helen Campo/flutes
Alexandra Knoll/oboe, english horn
Doug Wiesleman/clarinets
Charlie Porter/trumpet
Vincent Chancey/french horn
Jacob Garchik/trombone
Anthony Coleman/conductor
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If you told me you were going to jam on a bunch of mbiras
then give Anthony Coleman the recordings to transcribe
and arrange for chamber ensemble I'd look at you sideways
and then punch you in the jaw.
Unless, of course, you were the great percussionist Billy
Martin. I'm on 8 of the tracks on this CD which also includes
a couple string quartet pieces and the Whirligig Percussionists.
The pieces I played on are rhythmically complex and the bass
parts rarely go below middle C. Mostly I'm up in the stratosphere
hanging on for dear life, wondering what excuses I can make,
why I didn't go to a conservatory and whether or not I should
sit in the sauna later. Certainly though, nothing happens
in the past or in the future. Mr Coleman's touch is unmistakeable–giving
true beauty to awkwardness and putting a strain on inner
calm and visa versa.
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Carl Maguire
Between the Lines, 2006
CM/piano
Chris Mannigan/alto sax
Dan Weiss/drums
TD/bass
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Carl is also one of the first musicians I met when I first
moved to NY, and this recording was made in 2002. His
writing is some of the most complex I've come across
but the compositions give way to spontaneous expression
as well. Sometimes this music makes me think about
Benoit Delbeq or Gerry Hemmingway. Other times it makes
me think about lamb stuffed with prunes and roasted
at 375 for 40 minutes and in the meantime you can be
chopping up dill to put in the salad, and substituting
lime for vinegar. Don't forget the parmigiano cups
with candied endive. A pinch of hot red pepper flakes
goes a long way.
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Curtis Hasselbring
Skirl Records, 2006
Curha/trombone
Chris Speed/clarinet, tenor sax
TD/bass
John Hollenbeck/drums
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Curtis is one of the few musicians I know who has taken the
language of "jazz" to a new, interesting and fun place.
There are leanings toward pop culture here which I
find refreshing. I don't even know what that means.
Let's just say that I listened to Weather Report in
the 80s, I tried to sound like Jaco and then I stopped
trying and started to feel that it was ok to appreciate
Cheap Trick. And now what I want to say is "fuck you" to
anyone who thinks it's cool to like Cheap Trick now
when I'm still schlepping around the same vinyl I bought
when I was 13! Do I sound bitter? Geez...
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The MPTHREE
Utrch Records, 2006
Mike Pride/drums
Mary Halvorson/guitar
TD/bass
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This music was recorded live back in Nov of 2003, way before
I realized I wasn't hip enough to hang out in Williamsburg.
Mike Pride–a prolific writer and insomniac–was
one of the first people I met and played with when I
moved to NY. The recording quality on this disc is live
and raw but I was taken aback when I heard it after several
years by the level of focus and conviction. Very interesting
trio writing. Awkward and cross/eyed in a way that makes
you realize that not giving a shit about what other people
think is a good thing.
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Okkyung Lee
Tzadik, 2005
Tim Barnes/drums, percussion
Shelley Burgon/harp
Sylvie Courvoisier/piano
Trevor Dunn/bass
John Hollenbeck/drums, percussion
Okkyung Lee/cello
Ikue Mori/electronics
Doug Wieselman/clarinets
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Once again I walked about three blocks with my bass from
my apartment to Saft's basement/recoding studio.
Spent about three hours getting tones and recording on three
of the songs on this CD. It's an ecclectic mix of chamber
compostions and improv with a bunch of great musicians.
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David Krakauer & SoCalled with Klezmer Madness
Label
Bleu, 2005
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I've been filling in the bass chair in this band for the
past year or so and wound up doing a bit of recording
and overdubbing while hanging out in the suburbs or
Paris. I think Nicki Parrott and I are both on a couple
of the same tunes together.
Later, I went to a cheese party and ate a bunch of foie gras.
www.label/bleu.com |
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Yuka Honda
Tzadik, 2004
Brandt Abner/Keyboards
Thomas Bartlett/Voices
Trevor Dunn/Bass
Timo Ellis/Guitars, Drums
Petra Haden/Voices
Miho Hatori/Voices
Yuka Honda/Drum Programming, Bass,
Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Sampler, Voices
Japa Keenon/Drum Machine
Phantom/Rain
Marc Ribot/Guitars
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Eleven moody, funky, jazzy compositions from Yuka Honda,
a founding member of the popular band Cibo Matto and
a vital member of the Downtown scene since moving to
NY from Tokyo in 1987. Her second CD for the Oracles
Series is her best yet, featuring her soulful lyricism
and hip break beats augmented by distinguished guest
musicians like vocalists Petra Haden and Miho Hatori,
instrumentalists Marc Ribot, Trevor Dunn and a host
of others. Eucademix is an intimate journey through
the mind and heart of one of the most honest and original
musicians working in experimental pop today.
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Rob Price
Gutbrain Records, 2004
Rob Price/guitar
Ellery Eskelin/tenor sax
Joey Baron/drums
Trevor Dunn/bass
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Recorded on a beautiful Spring day in a cold, damp basement
studio. A Brooklyn studio made famous by sessions with
bands such as the Swans, Massacre and Material. But
those have little to do with this.
Rob Price is probably best known as the guitarist for Dim
Sum Clip Job. He started his own label at the turn of the
century and this is Gutbrain's fourth release. Deceptively
simplistic songs in the great tradition of song/writing.
Deconstruction and awkwardness in a controled environment.
For more info check out Gutbrain.com/" target="_blank" class="greytext">www.Gutbrain.com |
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Jenny Scheinman
Tzadik, 2004
Jenny Scheinman/violin
Myra Melford/piano/harmonium
Russ Johnson/trumpet
Kenny Wollesen/drums
TD/bass
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Superbly recorded. The blend between Jenny and Russ is uncanny.
Myra is sort of the center piece of this "oracles
series" record. And, of course, Kenny can do no
wrong. Sparsely orchestrated "folk jazz" as
some call it. I play very simply, and often in the
middle to high register. Kenny's bass drum holds the
bottom end here.
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Hilmar Jennson
Songlines, 2004
Hilmar Jensson/guitars
Trevor Dunn/bass
Andrew D'Angelo/alto & bass clarinet
Herb Robertson/trumpets
Jim Black/drums
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"Ditty Blei" is Icelandic for "change my diaper". I had a
blast recording this. The music is fairly complex; lots of
counterpoint and odd meters. Several tunes are very much
rock oriented. I can't believe I made a record with Herb
Robertson. The disc actually contains 3 separate versions
including multi/channel surround sound which is especially
relevant when you know that Hilmar is deaf in one ear.
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DIW, 2003
Louie Belogenis/saxophones
Tony Malaby/saxophones
Trevor Dunn/bass
Ryan Sawyer/drums
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A superbly recorded session of collective improvisation led
by two kingpin tenor saxophonists. The listening and
dialogue within this new group is refined, subtle and
always interesting.
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Jessica Jones Quartet
Jessica Jones, Tony Jones/tenor saxophones
Trevor Dunn/bass
Diego Voglino/drums
Deszon Claiborne/drums on track 6
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Limited edition live recording of this Bay Area based quartet
since relocating to NY. Five tracks recorded at Tonic,
NYC November 2000. One track from Yoshi's in Oakland,
CA July 1999.
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Erik Friedlander
Tzadik, 2001
Erik Friedlander/cello
Trevor Dunn/bass
Satoshi Takeishi/percussion
Bryce Dessner/guitar
Joyce Hammann/violin
Karen Milne/violin
Peter Rovit/violin
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One of the most important cellists in New Music and a dynamic
bandleader & composer in his own right, Erik Friedlander
has been a vital voice in the downtown scene for over
a decade. His latest project finds him surrounded by
ten violins and rhythm section. Moments of lush romanticism,
fiery brilliance and hypnotic moods, Grains of Paridise
is an exciting trip to exotic lands inspired by the
spices of the Orient.
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