Jazz Concerts & Festivals

[king ubu]

Not sure how many here go out to catch live jazz ... I do, quite often, and have started making it a habit to travel to places within rather close reach (Milan, Mulhouse) and occasionally a little bit farther (Warsaw, Ravenna ... from tomorrow on Berlin for a few days).

Thought it might be nice to have an on-going thread about it here - concerts you plan to attend and impressions about them afterwards.

I have my own blog (mostly in German) where I post my longer write-ups and if I take some snapshots, add a few pictures:
http://ubus-notizen.blogspot.ch/
But I have posted english write-ups elsewhere (mostly on the organissimo forum's on-going live music thread) and might just as well do so here, too, if there's interest and other contributors here (not into an ego thread, that's what I have that blog for already).

[king ubu]

What prompted me to start this thread right now is the trip to Berlin from tomorrow to Sunday, to hear these acts at Jazzfest Berlin, which has a particularly strong line-up this year:


Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Große Bühne - Do 03.11.2016, 19:00
Julia Hülsmann Quartet & Anna-Lena Schnabel
Mette Henriette
Wadada Leo Smith's Great Lakes Quartet

Haus der Berliner Festspiele - Fr 04.11.2016, 16:00
The Jazz Loft According to W. Eugene Smith (film)

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Große Bühne - Fr 04.11.2016, 19:00
Joshua Redman – Brad Mehldau Duo
Globe Unity Orchestra
Myra Melford's Snowy Egret

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Große Bühne - Sa 05.11.2016, 19:00
Angelika Niescier – Florian Weber Quintet
Nik Bärtsch – hr-Bigband
DeJohnette – Coltrane – Garrison

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtnis-Kirche Berlin - So 06.11.2016, 15:00
Wadada Leo Smith & Alexander Hawkins

Haus der Berliner Festspiele, Große Bühne - So 06.11.2016, 19:00
Julia Holter & Strings
Steve Lehman Octet
Eve Risser's White Desert Orchestra


link with full line-ups:
http://www.berlinerfestspiele.de/en/aktuell/festivals/jazzfest/programm_jazz/jazz16_programmliste.php

many an interesting sideman in these bands, John Lindberg and Marcus Gilmore with Wadada, Tyshawn Sorey and some Threadgill folks (Ellman, Takeishi) with Melford, Ralph Alessi, Eric Revis and Gerald Cleaver with Niescier/Weber, Mark Shim and others with Steve Lehman ... and on top of that I really do hope the Globe Unity will appear roughly as announced, having even just half of these people together on one stage would be amazing enough:

Globe Unity Orchestra
Henrik Walsdorff alto saxophone
Ernst-Ludwig Petrowsky alto saxophone, clarinet, flute
Daniele D'Agaro tenor saxophone, clarinet
Gerd Dudek soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet, flute
Evan Parker tenor saxophone
Rudi Mahall bass clarinet
Axel Dörner trumpet
Manfred Schoof trumpet, flugelhorn
Jean Luc Capozzo trumpet
Tomasz Stańko trumpet
Ryan Carniaux trumpet
Christof Thewes trombone
Wolter Wierbos trombone
Gerhard Gschlößl trombone
Carl-Ludwig Hübsch tuba
Alexander von Schlippenbach piano
Paul Lovens drums
Paul Lytton drums

[king ubu]

Sorry for never following up on Berlin ... but those were four great days! The highlight to me was the Sunday afternoon church concert with Alexander Hawkins on organ and Wadada Leo Smith on trumpet.

Seeing Smith live for the first time was one of the big highlights anyway, the Wadada Leo Smith Great Lakes Quartet was very good as well, with Jonathon Haffner (as), John Lindberg (d) und Marcus Gilmore (d). Gilmore was one of several amazing drummers to be heard at the festival (though Gerald Cleaver didn't deliver, see below) and he played an amazing set, pushing off one rolling wave after the other. Smith and Haffner soloed with destination and the group took all the time it needed, meaning there were parts where it didn't happen, but no one forced anything ... yet at the same time, their presence was very strong all the way through.

Other highlights to me included the Jack DeJohnette trio, Globe Unity Orchestra, Steve Lehman Octet, and - the big surprise as I'd not even heard her name before - Eve Risser's group. Also, Myra Melford's group was really good. DeJohnette – Coltrane – Garrison was the next big highlight - again the same manner of playing and attitude as with Smith, very open, not forcing things to happen but listening and reacting and going with the flow. DeJohnette I never saw live before either, and he was really impressive. Started out with a mumbling piano improvisation but that didn't take off and he moved over to his drum kit quickly ... and things started to gel. The fracturisation of the beat that he practised, often in reaction to stuff Matthew Garrison did on his electric bass (with many effects added), were amazing. Add on top of that Ravi Coltrane (wearing orange and pink, in the spirit of Alice C) with a stunning sound on tenor and soprano.

Globe Unity Orchestra was a blast, though it was not the right setting for them, really. They were all there, Schlippenbach, Schoof, Dudek, Lovens, Lytton, Petrowsky, Evan Parker, Stanko, Cappozzo etc. etc., standing in a semi circle on stage, with the soloists moving to the front (where a few microphones had been placed). The old men still have it going, obviously (and they added some younger guys to the line-up, such as Rudi Mahall or Axel Dörner). Wild, anarchist stuff.

The Steve Lehman Octet was mighty impressive, too, though a bit on the short side, alas (as were several sets, including Globe Unity - they were mostly of about the same length, just Redman/Mehldau were allowed to play much longer, yet with some groups the time set was perfect while with others, more would have very welcome). Lehman had his usual gang with him, including Mark Shim, Jonathan Finlayson etc, only Tyshawn Sorey wasn't there on drums, but Cody Brown did a mighty fine job! Intense and dense music.

Sorey had played a couple of nights earlier with Myra Melford's Snowy Egret, a band I had no precise idea what to expect from, with two Threadgill guys in it (Liberty Ellman-g, Stomu Takeishi-ac b-g), as well as Ron Miles (cor) and Sorey (d). Melford stuck to the grand piano on stage, they added extremely boring video projections, but the music was wonderful, Sorey pushed Ellman (who has a beautiful sound) over the edge, Takeishi did his usual dancing, Melford was more often just the leader but turned in a couple of good solos, Miles was wonderful all the way through.

Finally, after Lehman's supercharged set, the festival closed with Eve Risser's White Desert Orchestra - and I really fell in love with this group ... took me a while to get into it, but I loved the tunes, the attitude, the sound of the whole band, directed by Risser from her prepared piano. The group included flute and bassoon (both classical players, I think, one of the sax players has a classical background, too).

Some other sets were sort of okay, but also somewhat boring and overly polished. With Redman/Mehldau the problem was that they staged a cute show but Redman played all he got in every chorus of every solo - smart stuff, for sure, but smart is boring to me, very often. Mehldau was much more interesting but in that setting obviously often took the part of accompanying player. Nik Bärtsch performed with the hr Big Band, bloating up his Ronin zen funk stuff ... the arrangements worked nicely, but this kinda populist minimal music was never my thing. Mette Henriette and her large band put on a rather nice show, but in the end it was all-too-controlled and somewhat too calculated (also she should stop NOW at doing those Garbarek-like tenor parts - no need!) ... then the opening set by Julia Hülsmann with Anna Lena Schnabel was too cute and too polite, Schnabel shows promise for sure, her tune was the best and her solo were, too, but the pressure must have been immense ... finally, Angelika Niescier/Florian Weber - lousy, lousy set, big ego-show of Niescier's, crappy material that took the three fine sideman (Ralph Alessi, Eric Revis, Gerald Cleaver) quite some time to practise I'm sure, but then they were all on a very short lash, Cleaver sounded restrained, and Alessi's two or three solos were the only thing to preserve from that set, Weber played nothing worth noting, while Niescier fell in the same trap as Redman, though in a different, outré style of playing.

--

Then, I had to skip most of the local Unerhört festival ... no time, and frankly the line-up was not all that enticing to me. I made it to two great sets, though, both including a mighty good tenor player as the main drawing point:

First was a trio Ellery Eskelin-Christian Weber-Michael Griener, followed by a big band: Hans-Peter Pfammatter & Big Band der Hochschule Luzern-Musik. Eskelin was the reason I definitely had to catch that night, but Weber is big in my house, too - one of the musicians I've seen and heard most often in this ending, jazz-wise very intense year ... they played entirely acoustic, Weber has the sound to deliver, and Griener plays a set with very thin parts (bass drum is maybe 20 cm, snare not much more than 5 cm) and gets a highly transparent sound from that. They switched from old standards (harking back to Jelly Roll) and their own free compositions and played a terrific set. The big band after that was surprisingly good and modern - which I guess we had Pfammatter to thank for, who directed the group from his analogue synthesizer, which he made good use of a few times as well.

Second night started with a solo double bass set by local Peter K. Frey, then went on with Booklet, the trio of Tobias Delius (ts, cl), Joe Williamson (b) and Steve Heather (d). That night again was played unamplified (in a small room this time), and it was again wonderful. Heather played Griener's special set again and after the concert I had a chat with Griener, which was pretty cool. Lots of local musicians present both nights, btw - I like that they go out to see their colleagues perform.

--

Yesterday, went to see the Schlippenbach Trio on their regular December "Winterreise" ... by now, Paul Lytton is stepping in for Paul Lovens when they travel, which makes the trio an entirely different, but just a inspiring group. Evan Parker played tenor only, with his great sound. Schlippenbach fell into Monk tunes a few times ("Pannonica" in the first set, couldn't pin down the tune in the second), and in the second set, Evan Parker joined in, playing Monk - that was pretty amazing indeed. They did two short but concise freely improvised sets and added an encore to cap things off. Wonderful atmosphere, nothing better you can do on a Sunday late afternoon, I guess.

[SimonNZ]

Thanks for the great write-ups.

I notice now in the previous post you mention "Julia Holter with strings". Was that part of the Steve Lehman show? Holter is an artist I've become quite interested in over the last year.

[king ubu]

Thanks for the great write-ups.

I notice now in the previous post you mention "Julia Holter with strings". Was that part of the Steve Lehman show? Holter is an artist I've become quite interested in over the last year.

Actually I wanted to add a short paragraph on Julia Holter but forgot ... she opened Sunday's proceedings, followed by Lehman and then Risser. I've ordered her four albums after the concert but have only come to the first so far. Before hearing her live, I didn't really get her music, I had tried album #3 when it was new, but decided she's not for me. The live performance was very much okay, not a highlight, but solid, but her singing was very convincing and I guess hearing the music live opened up a new access to me - which is why I ordered the albums afterwards.

There were some funny reactions to her in the audience - "go to Glastonbury" was the silliest I heard, others were stating stuff like "if at least she could sing" - no doubt about her ability to sing, in fact she reminded me quite often of that purest of voices in popular music, Joni Mitchell. She did in no way respond to the old jazzheads' offenses (and several of them just left the room). We were expecting even more to people to dislike Lehman after that, but funny enough it seems many jazz listeners still are very much into virtuoso playing ... so they dug Lehman in a way that they'd dug Nik Bärtsch or Joshua Redman before. Too much shiny surface there, to my ears, but Lehman is the real deal.

[SimonNZ]

Thanks for that.

Ah, well..she's certainly an odd fit for a jazz festival, but her "Have You In My Wilderness" album has been on heavy rotation here for the last year.

[king ubu]

Ah, well..she's certainly an odd fit for a jazz festival, but her "Have You In My Wilderness" album has been on heavy rotation here for the last year.

I guess the really good part about this year's Berlin Jazzfest was that it offered a broad view of current jazz - there was a really broad spectrum of music to be heard, European and American, lyrical and wild, mainstream and far out ... and I would assume that Holter playing her stuff with band (and no electronics/programming, or very little, she stood behind a small keyboard/synthesizer) should fit into such a broadly scoped programme. But obviously there were all kinds of listeners that disliked some of the other bit (Redman/Mehldau were opening one of the nights ... when Globe Unity began, there were plenty of people gone already ... and when Melford followed last, some returned and left again 10 or 15 minutes into her set ... Redman is mostly still for a post-bop-mainstream-crowd, I guess, thus those many of the people that got there for him couldn't cope with the out-ish stuff of others ... but still, sometimes these crowds at jazz concerts seem to be awfully narrow-minded.

[king ubu]

next jazz concerts, in January:

Malcolm Braff Trio - Jan 7 - Moods, Zürich
Malcom Braff p, Reggie Washington b, Lukas Koenig dr

Nasheet Waits - Equality Quartet - Jan 10 - Moods, Zürich
Darius Jones sax, Aruan Ortiz p, Mark Helias b, Nasheet Waits dr

Missed Ortíz at Unerhört recently, never saw him of Jones perform live ... and haven't seen Waits for a while.
Braff is pretty good, heard his BraffOesterRohrer trio twice, and then also his electric band (fender rhodes, elb, d), the first BraffOesterRohrer concert, probably 10 or 12 years back, is amongst the best concerts I ever attended.


also have my first trip planned, a week in Italy around the following concerts (and a visit of La Scala to see "Don Carlo" in between):

Roscoe Mitchell Sextet Plays Coltrane - Jan 29 - Teatro Manzoni, Milano
(Mazz Swift, Tomeka Reid, Silvia Bolognesi, Junius Paul, Vincent Davis)
http://www.aperitivoinconcerto.it/evento/2017-01-29/roscoe-mitchell-sextet

Bobby Bradford Quartet - Feb 4 - Novara, Attico delle arti
(Vinnie Golia, Bernard Santacruz, Paal Nilssen-Love)
http://www.novarajazz.org/eventi/bobby-bradford-quartet

[Andante]

I have only been to one Jazz festival and that was in NZ 'perhaps Simon knows of it 'a town called Tauranga in 2008 it was a mixture of music not all jazz, I did take a few pics all the bands were local but played very well.


   



Most of my live jazz experiences were in the UK in the late 50s and were Jazz clubs, all towns had at least one jazz club with one resident group where musicians would drop in for a drink and a jam on their nights off. I also went to Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in Soho,  London which was Britains top Jazz venue at that time (early 60s) all the top names in Brit jazz  this was in the time of the notorious Kray Brothers but I did not know this at the time. I found that the best jazz was performed in the clubs.

[king ubu]

Most of my live jazz experiences were in the UK in the late 50s and were Jazz clubs, all towns had at least one jazz club with one resident group where musicians would drop in for a drink and a jam on their nights off. I also went to Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club in Soho,  London which was Britains top Jazz venue at that time (early 60s) all the top names in Brit jazz  this was in the time of the notorious Kray Brothers but I did not know this at the time. I found that the best jazz was performed in the clubs.

Cool! Would you have any memories/stories to share on the likes of Tubby Hayes, Victor Feldman, Ronnie Scott (as a musician) etc? Bobby Wellins maybe? Or even young Joe Harriott?

[Andante]

Cool! Would you have any memories/stories to share on the likes of Tubby Hayes, Victor Feldman, Ronnie Scott (as a musician) etc? Bobby Wellins maybe? Or even young Joe Harriott?

Sorry to disappoint you ubu but while I love the musicians that you mention I never saw any of them live. I only went to Scotts twice the first time with a fellow double bass player we both wanted to upgrade our instruments so decided to go down to London and visit "Footes" which was a large musical store and had a great selection of Basses, I actually finished up with a 5 string Czech made bass, any way my friend suggested that we call in at Scotts before heading home I cant remember which musicians were playing but George Melly joined them to sing a couple of numbers and then started to tell some of his jokes he was so funny, the second time was with my wife and this time it was just local musicians but very enjoyable.
The ordinary clubs were mostly in Pubs and consisted of amateur and semi pro musicians just improvising stuff.     

[king ubu]

I see - I guess you listened to what was right back at the time ... was just curious, always love to hear stories/remembrances of musicians that trodded the earth before I was around.

[king ubu]

Looking back, this was easily the most intense and satisfying year as far as live music goes - both classical and jazz. For another site, I've put together this list ("Bericht" means "report" in German, and indicates I wrote at more length about that particular concert - if you are interested and read German, go here to find working links):

* * * * *
Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande – Opernhaus Zürich (Alain Altinoglu) – 27.5. (Bericht)
Nono: Prometeo – Theater Luzern (Clemens Heil) – 15.10.
Peter Brötzmann/Jason Adasiewicz/John Edwards/Steve Noble/Hamid Drake – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 7.3.
Tonhalle Orchester Zürich, Bernhard Haitink, Zürcher Sing-Akademie, Christian Gehaher, Camilla Tilling – Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem – Zürich, Tonhalle – 16.1. (Bericht)
Wadada Leo Smith & Alexander Hawkins – Jazzfest Berlin, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche – 6.11.
Shostakovich: Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk – Opernhaus Zürich (Vasily Petrenko) – 27.12.
Barry Guy Blue Shroud Band – Zürich, Miller Studio – 19.9.
Peter Brötzmann/Toshinori Kondo/Alexander von Schlippenbach/Han Bennink – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 9.3.
Decoy & Evan Parker – Novara, Attico delle arti – 30.1. (Bericht)
Poing + Maja S. K. Ratkje – Taktlos, Zürich, Rote Fabrik – 19.5.
Roscoe Mitchell Trio with John Edwards & Mark Sanders – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 27.8.
Alexander von Schlippenbach & Han Bennink – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 10.3.
Peter Brötzmann/Mateusz Rybicki/Toshinori Kondo/Jason Adasiewicz/Alexander von Schlippenbach/John Edwards/Zbigniew Kozera/Steve Noble – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 10.3.

* * * *1/2
Ellery Eskelin/Christian Weber/Michael Griener – Unerhört, GZ Riesbach, Zürich – 23.11. (Bericht)
Verdi: Don Carlo – Zürich, Opernhaus (Fabio Luisi) – 7.12.
Jack DeJohnette/Ravi Coltrane/Matthew Garrison – Jazzfest Berlin – 5.11.
Tonhalle-Orchester, Bernard Haitink, András Schiff – Beethoven: Klavierkonzert Nr. 5 / Bruckner: Symphonie Nr. 9 – Zürich, Tonhalle – 8.12. (Bericht)
Kristian Bezuidenhout, Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique, John Eliot Gardiner (Brahms, Beethoven, Schubert) – Zürich, Tonhalle – 14.11. (Bericht)
Louis Moholo ,,5 Blokes" – Ravenna Festival, Teatro Rasi – 21.6. (Bericht)
Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner – Bach: Matthäuspassion – Luzern, KKL – 17.3. (Bericht)
Wadada Leo Smith's Great Lakes Quartet – Jazzfest Berlin – 3.11.
Booklet (Tobias Delius-Joe Williamson-Steve Heather) – Unerhört, WIM, Zürich – 24.11. (Bericht)
Sophie Agnel/Joke Lanz/Michael Vatcher – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 24.8.
Nicolas Masson ,,Parallels" – Zürich – 21.5. (Bericht)
Peter Brötzmann & Heather Leigh – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 8.3.
Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Thierry Fischer & Patricia Kopatchinskaja – Weinberg, Prokofiev, Beethoven – Zürich, Tonhalle – 9.5. (Bericht)
Jazz Against Apartheid: Celebrating the Music of Johnny Dyani – Basel, Bird's Eye – 27.10. (Bericht)
Gyan Riley and Julian Lage play The Bagatelles Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 3.9.
Elina Duni & Jean-Paul Brodbeck – Zürich – 10.6. (Bericht)
Zeitkratzer: Lou Reed ,,Metal Machine Music" Parts 1-4 – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 26.8.
Anja Harteros, Tonhalle Orchester, Donald Runnicles (R. Strauss, Webern, Wagner) – Zürich, Tonhalle – 28.10. (Bericht)
Joachim Badenhorst – Météo, Mulhouse, Chapelle Saint-Jean – 26.8.
Julia Fischer/Igor Levit – Beethoven: Violinsonaten Nr. 9 & 10 – Zürich, Tonhalle, Kleiner Saal – 10.1. (Bericht)
Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart – Theater Rigiblick, Zürich – 15.6.
Eve Risser's White Desert Orchestra – Jazzfest Berlin – 6.11.
Igor Levit – Hamburg, Laeiszhalle – 12.10.
Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail – Opernhaus Zürich (Maxim Emelyanychev) – 21.12.
John Zorn's Masada Quartet – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 3.9.
Mat Maneri/Randy Peterson – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 4.9.
The Thing & Joe McPhee – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 24.8.
Bruce Springsteen – Zürich, Letzigrund – 31.7.
Ephrem Lüchinger – Taktlos, Zürich, Rote Fabrik – 20.5.
Isabelle Faust/Jean-Guihen Queyras/Alexander Melnikov – Schumann, Schubert, Sciarrino: Piano Trios – Zürich, Tonhalle – 17.4. (Bericht)
Muhal Richard Abrams Quintet – Milano, Teatro Manzoni – 31.1. (Bericht)
Steve Lehman Octet – Jazzfest Berlin – 6.11.
Kris Davis Solo – Zürich, Villa Irniger, 17.5. (Bericht)
Alexander von Schlippenbach/John Edwards/Steve Noble – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 8.3.
John Edwards solo – Jazzfestival Willisau, Rathaus – 3.9.
Oum – Zürich, Moods – 1.4. (Bericht)
Toshinori Kondo/John Edwards/Han Bennink – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 8.3.
Peter Brötzmann/Toshinori Kondo/Heather Leigh/Han Bennink – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 10.3.

* * * *
Ken Vandermark & Nate Wooley – Taktlos, Zürich, Rote Fabrik – 19.5.
Christian Weber Solo – Wila – 3.7.
Cyro Baptista's Banquet of the Spirits plays Masada — The Book Beriah – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 3.9.
Hamid Drake/William Parker/Pat Thomas – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 26.8.
Heiri Känzig (w/Thierry Lang & Chico Freeman) – Zürich, Moods – 4.12.
Der Verboten – Météo, Mulhouse, La Filature – 27.8.
Sonic Communion (Jean-Luc Cappozzo, Douglas Ewart, Joëlle Léandre, Bernard Santacruz, Michael Zerang) – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 27.8.
Myra Melford's Snowy Egret – Jazzfest Berlin – 4.11.
Asmodeus plays The Bagatelles – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 3.9.
Mats Gustafsson Nu Ensemble – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 25.8.
Globe Unity Orchestra – Jazzfest Berlin – 4.11.
David Murray & Aki Takase – Zürich, Moods – 29.4. (Bericht)
Áine O'Dwyer – Météo, Mulhouse, Église Sainte-Geneviève – 26.8.
Matthew Shipp Solo – Taktlos, Zürich, Rote Fabrik – 19.5.
University of London Chamber Choir – Mantova, Basilica S. Barbara – 28.6.
Lia Pale & Mathias Rüegg – Wien, Porgy & Bess – 27.7.
G. Ramanathan – Zürich, Museum Rietberg – 8.5. (Bericht)
Jason Adasiewicz/Heather Leigh/John Edwards/Steve Noble – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 9.3.
Clayton Thomas – Météo, Mulhouse, Chapelle Saint-Jean – 27.8.
Toshinori Kondo & Heather Leigh – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 7.3.
Verdi: Aïda – Arena di Verona (Julian Kovatchev) – 30.6. (Bericht)
Fazil Say – Mozart, Chopin, Say – Zürich, Tonhalle – 19.04. (Bericht)
Bertrand Denzler/Axel Dörner/Antonin Gerbal – Zürich, WIM – 13.5. (Bericht)
MinAfric Orchestra & Louis Moholo & Keith Tippett & Julie Tippetts – Ravenna Festival, Teatro Rasi – 20.6. (Bericht)
Jean-Paul Brodbeck Trio – Zürich, Moods – 29.4. (Bericht)
Zeena Parkins solo – Météo, Mulhouse, L'Entrepot – 24.8.
Agustí Fernández/Kjell Nordeson – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 25.8.
Tobias Meier ,,Im Wald" – Jazzfestival Willisau, Rathaus – 4.9.
Mulatu Astatke – Zürich, Moods – 6.2. (Bericht)
Han Bennink & Jason Adasiewicz – Warschau, Pardon To Tu – 7.3.


Roscoe Mitchell mit John Edwards (b) und Mark Sanders (d) – Mulhouse – 27. August 2016

* * *1/2
Els Biesemans – Zürich, Grossmünster – 20.7.
Simulacrum – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 3.9.
Tonhalle Orchester, Paavo Järvi, Steven Isserlis: Prokofiev, Kurtág, Schumann – Zürich, Tonhalle – 16.12.
Robert Glasper Experiment – Zürich, Moods – 7.4. (Bericht)
Julia Holter & Strings – Jazzfest Berlin – 6.11.
Silvan Jeger/Silvan Schmid, Jonas Labhart/Gabriela Friedli, Sandra Weiss/Christian Weber – Zürich, WIM – 23.12.
Hans-Peter Pfammatter & Big Band der Hochschule Luzern-Musik – Unerhört, GZ Riesbach, Zürich – 23.11. (Bericht)
Alice Borciani/Musiker des Tonhalle Orchester – L'état, c'est moi: Couperin, Montéclair, Lully – Tonhalle, Zürich – 12.6.
Native Instrument (Stine Janvin Motland, Felicity Mangan) – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 27.8.
Colin Vallon/Matthieu Michel/Flo Götte/Domi Charnson – Taktlos, Zürich, Rote Fabrik – 19.5.
Keith Tippett & Julie Tippetts – Ravenna Festival, Teatro Rasi – 20.6. (Bericht)
Clayton Thomas/Anthea Caddy – Météo, Mulhouse, L'Entrepot – 24.8.
Jacob Wick & Christian Weber – Zürich, WIM – 13.5. (Bericht)
Per-Ake Holmlander – Météo, Mulhouse, Bibliothèque Grand'Rue – 25.8.
dieb13 solo – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 25.8.

* * *
Joachim Kühn Trio ,,Beauty & Truth" – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 4.9.
Joshua Redman & Brad Mehldau Duo – Jazzfest Berlin – 4.11.
Tobias Meier ,,Im Wald" – Zürich – 27.2.
Mette Henriette – Jazzfest Berlin – 3.11.
Green Dome (Zeena Parkins) – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 26.8.
Cleric plays Masada – The Book Beriah – Jazzfestival Willisau, Festhalle – 3.9.
Peter K. Frey (solo) – Unerhört, WIM, Zürich – 24.11. (Bericht)
Nik Bärtsch ,,Ronin" & hr-Bigband – Jazzfest Berlin – 5.11.
Alexandre Babel solo – Météo, Mulhouse, Chapelle Saint-Jean – 25.8.

* *1/2
Mike Majkowski – Météo, Mulhouse, Église Sainte-Geneviève – 26.8.
Louis Minus XVI – Météo, Mulhouse, Noumatrouff – 24.8.
Julia Hülsmann Quartet & Anna-Lena Schnabel – Jazzfest Berlin – 3.11.
The Tiptons Sax Quartet & Drums – Taktlos, Zürich, Rote Fabrik – 19.5.

* *
Angelika Niescier/Florian Weber Quintet – Jazzfest Berlin – 5.11.
Kris Davis/Christoph Irniger Duo – Zürich, Villa Irniger, 17.5. (Kurzbericht)

[king ubu]

The jazz year started last night with a terrific concert by Malcolm Braff's trio (with Reggie Washington on electric bass and Lukas König on drums). I heard Braff around ten years ago with BraffOesterRohrer and that was fantastic as well - in between, there were two more concerts that didn't ever reach these same heights, but yesterday, it all worked perfectly again. Washington played a deep and funky bass, ofter more felt than heard. König proved a true master of edgy beats, mixing funk, drum'n'bass and all kinds of afro-cuban beats. Braff grew up in Senegal amongst other places and came to Switzerland aged 13 only. His African roots really show in his music, which to my ears is completely singular. You may think of clusters like McCoy Tyner plays them, of Monk's dissonances, of west African pop of the seventies, of Dollar Brand's rolling piano, the drums may go into a Makossa/Dibango beat and Braff will follow, puncturing the music with sharp attacks ... he is as much as rhythmic as a melodic player, often sticking to tiny licks and riffs and building on them slowly with help of his two partners (who obviously had a ball playing with Braff). The three are a closely knit unit, able to communicate with ease and take all kinds of turns.

For those reading German, there's a longer report up here:
http://ubus-notizen.blogspot.ch/2017/01/malcolm-braff-trio-moods-zurich-712017.html

[king ubu]

Nasheet Waits Equality Quartet - Moods, Zurich (Switzerland) - 10 January 2017

Darius Jones (as), Aruán Ortiz (p), Mark Helias (b), Nasheet Waits (d)

Pretty amazing indeed! Or rather, Waits was amazing all the way through - what a great drummer, of the younger generation, he may be my very favourite! They started off set 1 with an Andrew Hill tune and then segued seamlessly into three more tunes (originals, I think), then Waits pulled a short stand-up act before the break. And yeah, break time it was pretty often, musically speaking. Lots of funk in there, and lots of build-ups and explosive stuff ... sat right up front and center, two meters from the bell of Darius Jones' mighty alto, Waits to the right, Ortiz to the left on a nice baby grand, and Helias (his bass sounding slippery and ugly and overamplified) in the back behind Jones (and standing behind Jones means you won't be seen much ... but from the second of third piece on, Jones moved to the side a bit when he wasn't playing).

The Intakt crew was there, to watch their latest hype Aruan Ortiz ... he was alright (though compared to the amplification of the bass and drums he was a bit low in the mix - why amplify drums in such small locations anyway, I will never quite understand ... job security for the sound man?) but I don't quite get the brouhaha, I'm afraid, his Intakt disc sounds a bit tame/restricted to my ears, but he wasn't really loosening up much more last night, except for one part where he was banging, which got boring after a while. Second set was not fully segued, after two tunes they put their instruments down for a moment, then played a ballad and one more tune, and in the end returned for an encore ... I guess the playing time amounted to around two hours, and all in all, I really enjoyed it. And watching Waits was amazing. I have heard him at least three times - with Vijay Iyer's trio, with Tarbaby + Oliver Lake, and in November with Wadada Leo Smith's Great Lakes quartet in Berlin. But only yesterday, it dawned on me how much of a Max Roach man he is ... of course he adds plenty of other ingredients, but he has that marching, vertical style, and he has that heavy, drum-based sound, making the snare, the bass drum and the two toms (one on the floor, one on top of the bass drum) his main instruments, using hi-hat and cymbals more to puncuate rather than to create a constant flow. He does get into a flow, but it's a charged one that can go in any direction at any time, that is never one of equal division of time, rather it's rolling and strutting, it stutters, it gets delayed minimally only to catch up and lead the pack again a mere second later. Mesmerizing to sit so close to a master at work for an entire night!

[Brian]

This June, Benny Golson and Jimmy Heath will be playing a reunion concert at the 92nd Street Y in New York.

[king ubu]

This June, Benny Golson and Jimmy Heath will be playing a reunion concert at the 92nd Street Y in New York.

Would obviously love to hear that! Had the chance to catch Golson in concert a few years ago and he did quite well. His tone isn't as huge any longer, but still beautifully shaped. And I guess his breath is somewhat shorter, too - he made plenty of announcements, telling stories about Coltrane, Brownie etc. ... the same stories he tells during his concerts (as documented via audience recordings or what have you). Jimmy Heath I respect very much, but somehow his playing doesn't feel very engaging to me quite often - I'll keep trying (favourite album is "Picture of Heath" on Xanadu, his earlier ones on Riverside etc. have great bands but somehow just don't work that well for me).

Next up here, I think: Joe Lovano Quartet and a week later Shabaka and The Ancestors.

Also just booked train tickes for June - on June 1/2 Louis Moholo will play in Novara and I'm going to be there, hopefully!

[king ubu]

Sunday, April 16, 2017, 7.30 pm + 9.15 pm

MAYA HOMBURGER – BARRY GUY
Maya Homburger: Violine
Barry Guy: Bass

HOWARD RILEY TRIO WITH BARRY GUY & LUCAS NIGGLI
Howard Riley: Piano
Barry Guy: Bass
Lucas Niggli: Drums

EVAN PARKER – BARRY GUY
Evan Parker: Saxophone
Barry Guy: Bass

JÜRG WICKIHALDER – BARRY GUY – LUCAS NIGGLI: BEYOND
Jürg Wickihalder: Saxophone
Barry Guy: Bass
Lucas Niggli: Drums

Monday, April 17, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

TREVOR WATTS – DIETER ULRICH
Trevor Watts: Saxophone
Dieter Ulrich: Drums

LUCAS NIGGLI – JAN GALEGA BRÖNNIMANN – ALY KEÏTA
Lucas Niggli: Drums
Jan Galega Brönnimann: Bass Clarinet
Ali Keïta: Balafon

Tuesday, April 18, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

IRÈNE SCHWEIZER – LOUIS MOHOLO MOHOLO
Irène Schweizer: Piano Louis
Moholo Moholo: Drums

OMRI ZIEGELE WHERE'S AFRICA
Feat. Irène Schweizer + Louis Moholo Moholo
Omri Ziegele: Saxophone
Irène Schweizer: Piano
Louis Moholo Moholo: Drums

Wednesday, April 19, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

IRÈNE SCHWEIZER – MAGGIE NICOLS
Irène Schweizer: Piano
Maggie Nicols: Voice

OMRI ZIEGELE NOISY MINORITY
Feat. Percy Pursglove
Omri Ziegele: Saxophone
Jan Schlegel: Bass
Dieter Ulrich: Drums
Percy Pursglove: Trumpet

Thursday, April 20, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

SCHLIPPENBACH PLAYS MONK
Alexander von Schlippenbach: Piano

OMRI ZIEGELE – JOHN EDWARDS – MARK SANDERS
Omri Ziegele: Saxophone
John Edwards: Bass
Mark Sanders: Drums

Friday, April 21, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

BUECHI – KINSELLA – EDWARDS – MARSHALL
WOOD AND BONES
Sarah Buechi: Voice, Composition
Lauren Kinsella: Voice
Hannah Marshall: Cello
John Edwards: Double Bass

SCHLIPPENBACH TRIO
Alexander Von Schlippenbach: Piano
Evan Parker: Saxophone
Paul Lovens: Drums

Saturday, April 22, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

INGRID LAUBROCK SLEEPTHIEF
Ingrid Laubrock: Saxophone
Liam Noble: Piano
Tom Rainey: Drums

SARAH BUECHI SHADOW GARDEN
Sarah Buechi: Voice
Stefan Aeby: Piano
André Pousaz: Bass
Lionel Friedli: Drums

Sunday, April 23, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

CHRISTOPH IRNIGER PILGRIM
Christoph Irniger: Saxophone
Dave Gisler: Guitar
Stefan Aeby: Piano
Raffaele Bossard: Bass
Michi Stulz: Drums

AKI TAKASE – INGRID LAUBROCK
Aki Takase: Piano
Ingrid Laubrock: Saxophone

Monday, April 24, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

STEFAN AEBY TRIO
Stefan Aeby: Piano
André Pousaz: Bass
Michi Stulz: Drums

AKI TAKASE – RUDI MAHALL
Aki Takase: Piano
Rudi Mahall: Saxophone

Tuesday, April 25, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

FLORIAN EGLI WEIRD BEARD
Florian Egli: Saxophone
Dave Gisler: Guitar
Martina Berther: E-Bass
Rico Baumann: Drums

STEVE BERESFORD – JULIAN SARTORIUS
Steve Beresford: Piano
Julian Sartorius: Drums

Wednesday, April 26, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

SYLVIE COURVOISIER – MARK FELDMAN
Sylvie Courvoisier: Piano
Mark Feldman: Violine

PIERRE FAVRE DRUMSIGHTS
Pierre Favre: Drums
Valeria Zangger: Drums
Markus Lauterburg: Drums
Chris Jaeger: Drums

Thursday, April 27, 2017, 8.30 pm + 10.00 pm

PIERRE FAVRE SOLO
Pierre Favre: Drums

COURVOISIER – FELDMAN FEAT. EVAN PARKER
Sylvie Courvoisier: Piano
Mark Feldman: Violine
Evan Parker: Saxophone

Organisation
Verein London Concerts · Intakt Records
Präsident: Lucas Niggli
Vizepräsidentin: Sarah Buechi
Executive Producers: Anja Illmaier, Florian Keller, Patrik Landolt
Für Vortex: Oliver Weindling, Kathianne Hingwan

http://www.intaktrec.ch/london-a.htm

---

Was there for the first six nights - fantastic! German write-up can be found here:
http://ubus-notizen.blogspot.ch/2017/04/intakt-records-in-london-vortex-jazz.html

[king ubu]

LONDON – ZÜRICH FESTIVAL
Ein Jazz-Wochenende

Sa, 29. April 2017
Mit Irène Schweizer und Louis Moholo-Moholo / Evan Parker
und Flo Stoffner / Omri Ziegele, John Edwards und Mark Sanders

So, 30. April 2017
Mit Evan Parker und Barry Guy / Ingrid Laubrock Sleepthief feat. Liam Noble und Tom Rainey

Der Jazzclub Vortex, im farbigen Londoner Quartier Hampstead (Hackney! – gtw) gelegen, offeriert dem Zürcher Musikhaus Intakt Records das Kuratorium für ein Festival im April 2017 in London. Auf der Bühne begegnen Schweizer Bands vielen hochkarätigen britischen Jazzmusikerinnen und -musikern. Eine Auswahl der Londoner Konzerte macht am Ende des Festivals einen Abstecher nach Zürich.

Samstag, 29. April, 19.30 Uhr

Irène Schweizer (Piano) und Louis Moholo-Moholo (Drums)
Das Konzert des Drummers Louis Moholo-Moholo und der Pianistin Irène Schweizer während des Jazzfestivals in Zürich 1986 wurde zu einer ästhetischen und politischen Demonstration gegen die Apartheidpolitik Südafrikas. Die langjährigen Freunde stehen jetzt wieder gemeinsam in Zürich auf der Bühne.

Evan Parker (Saxophon) und Flo Stoffner (Gitarre)
Die britische Saxophon-Ikone Evan Parker trifft auf den Zürcher Gitarristen Flo Stoffner.

Omri Ziegele (Saxophon / Vox), John Edwards (Bass) und Mark Sanders (Drums)
Der Saxophonist Omri Ziegele hörte John Edwards und Mark Sanders zum ersten Mal an einem Festival in Rumänien. Seither hegt Omri Ziegele den Wunsch, mit den beiden ein Projekt zu starten. Am Intakt-Festival in Vortex spielen die drei jetzt erstmals zusammen und führen in Zürich ihr Projekt fort.

Sonntag, 30. April, 19 Uhr

Evan Parker (Saxophonist) und Barry Guy (Bass)
Der Saxophonist Evan Parker und der Bassist Barry Guy sind seit vielen Jahren musikalische und persönliche Freunde. Sie spielten in gemeinsamen Projekten wie dem New York Orchestra oder im Evan Parker Trio, im Theater Neumarkt spielen die beiden im intimen Duo-Kontext.

Ingrid Laubrock (Saxophon), Liam Noble (Piano) und Tom Rainey (Drums)
Ingrid Laubrock gilt als innovativste Saxophonistin des aktuellen New Yorker Jazz. Zusammen mit Liam Noble und Tom Rainey spielt sie unter dem Namen Sleepthief an grossen, internationalen Festivals.

http://www.theaterneumarkt.ch/plattform-12/veranstaltungen/london-zuerich-festival.html

___

This was the tail-end of the Intakt/London celebrations ... I made it to the second night and it was terrific. Parker/Guy were, if anything, even better! And Laubrock, whom I've heard a few times, sounded better than ever before, too!

Again, german write-up:
http://ubus-notizen.blogspot.ch/2017/05/londonzurich-festival-zurich-theater.html

[king ubu]

starting tonight (planning to be there tonight and on Saturday):


Taktlos 17

4. Mai 2017
20:00

20h ● K a j a D R A K S L E R O C T E T
Kaja Draksler, piano
Laura Polence, voice
Björk Níelsdóttir, voice
Ada Rave, tenorsax·clarinet
Ab Baars, tenorsax·clarinet
George Dumitriu, violin·viola
Lennart Heyndels, bass
Onno Govaert, drums
SLO·LET·ISL·ARG·NL·ROM·BE

Amsterdam ist ein guter Nährboden für Kultur, um Unterstützung wird geistreich gekämpft. Die Stadt bietet Raum für spannende Projekt, lässt Einheimische und Zugereiste zusammenfinden. Die Zugereisten bleiben oft für lange, so auch einzelne aus dem bunten Strauss des Oktetts der slowenischen Pianistin Kaja Draksler. Die MusikerInnen sind jung und noch zu entdecken. Sie bringen einen jazzigen oder klassischen Hintergrund mit – oder beides. Offenheit für Experimente zeichnet sie aus.
Spannungsvolle Überlagerungen der Genres prägen Drakslers Kompositionen. So schimmert in «Omlettio ad Absurdum» die Jazz-tradition durch, oder man lässt sich in «Canto XII» mit zeitgenössisch-klassischer Musik von einem Pablo-Neruda-Text bezaubern. Ihre Musik spricht in vielen Zungen, nutzt das vielschichtige Potenzial der Spielenden, lässt auch nicht vergessen, dass Amsterdam das Zentrum von «New Dutch Swing» ist.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Kaja Draksler Octet «Gledalec», Clean Feed, 2017 ¦Kaja Draksler und Susana Santos Silva «This Love», Clean Feed, 2015 ¦Kaja Draksler und Onno Govaert «Feecho – Bums», Negocito, 2014 ¦Kaja Draksler «The Lives of Many Others», Clean Feed, 2013.

www kajadraksler.com ¦ adarave.com ¦ stichtingwig.com (Ab Baars) ¦ georgedumitriu.com ●

21.15h ● A M O K A M O R
Peter Evans, trumpet
Wanja Slavin, altosax
Petter Eldh, bass
Christian Lillinger, drums
US·DE·SE

Die Musik von Amok Amor ist fiebrig und rasant, furios und virtuos. Wohin die Reise gehen könnte, hat sich schon mit der CD «Starlight» angekündet, mit der Altsaxofonist Wanja Slavin, der schwedische Bassist Petter Eldh und der Schlagzeuger Christian Lillinger vor einigen Jahren auf sich aufmerksam gemacht haben. Nun sind sie zusammen mit dem US-amerikanischen Trompeter Peter Evans angekommen: Amok Amor.
Die Kompositionen stammen von Slavin, Eldh und Lillinger. Letzterer, ein «Ziehsohn» von Günter Baby Sommer, hat soeben den SWR-Jazzpreis erhalten. Gemeinsam sind sie Impulsgeber für die Berliner Szene und darüber hinaus. Sie entwickeln zusammen mit Evans eine unverschämte Wucht, haben bei aller Unberechenbarkeit alles unter Kontrolle. Sie treiben die Tradition der wilden sechziger Jahre voran und bleiben couragiert, scheuen kein Risiko.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Amok Amor «We Know Not What We Do», Intakt, 2017 ¦Amok Amor «Amok Amor», Boomslang, 2015 ¦Gropper-Graupe-Lillinger (The Hyperactive Kid) «Riot», WhyPlayJazz, 2015 ¦Slavin-Eldh-Lillinger «Starlight», Unit, 2011 ¦Peter Evans (Mostly Other People Do the Killing) «Blue», Hot Cup, 2014.

www christian-lillinger.com ¦ wanja-slavin.de ¦ pettereldh.com ●︎

—

5. Mai 2017
20:00

20h ● S a m u e l B L A S E R T R I O
Samuel Blaser, trombone
Marc Ducret, guitar
Peter Bruun, drums
CH·FR·DK

Der aus La Chaux-de-Fonds stammende Posaunist Samuel Blaser, der auch in Projekten von Pierre Favre spielt, ist seit zehn Jahren als Bandleader aktiv. Nach längerem Aufenthalt in New York hat er in Berlin ein Domizil gefunden. Mit dem Pariser Gitarristen Marc Ducret und dem Schlagzeuger Peter Bruun aus Kopenhagen betreibt er ein äusserst agiles und geschmeidiges Trio. Der glasklare, manchmal harsche Gitarrensound kontrastiert mit dem warmen Posaunenklang, der perkussiv sensibel und präzis unterfüttert wird.
Ducret konnte man vor bald zwanzig Jahren solo und mit Tim Bernes Science Friction in der Fabrik hören. Zusammen mit Blaser und Bruun präsentiert er nun musikalische Preziosen in leicht verhangenen Klanglandschaften. Es ist ein eingespieltes Team am Werk, das elegante Wendungen und Drehungen liebt.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Samuel Blaser Quartet «Spring Rain», Whirlwind, 2014 ¦Samuel Blaser «As the Sea», hatOLOGY, 2012 ¦Samuel Blaser «Boundless», hatOLOGY, 2011 ¦Marc Ducret «Paysage, avec bruits», Abalone, 2016.

www samuelblaser.com ¦ marcducret.com ¦ peterbruun.net

21.15h ● L i s a U L L É N Q U A R T E T
Lisa Ullén, piano
Mats Äleklint, trombone
Nils Ölmedal, bass
Andreas Axelsson, drums
SE

Die Pianistin und Komponistin Lisa Ullén ist in Nordschweden aufgewachsen und lebt in Stockholm. Sie studierte klassisches Piano, verschrieb sich aber schon bald der Improvisation und begann vermehrt auch das Innere des Instruments zu nutzen. Auf ihrer Solo-CD «Catachresis» erinnern einige Titel an ihre südkoreanische Vergangenheit.
Mit ihrem Quartett spielt sie zärtliche Titel wie «Your Dreams, or Mine», die den herausragenden Posaunisten Mats Äleklint in seiner hymnischen Kraft zeigen. Sie entführen uns spielerisch in einen «Room Full of Tunes» oder lassen uns an einer «Midnight Conversation» teilhaben. Nils Ölmedal am Bass und Andreas Axelsson am Schlagzeug sorgen dabei für gute Erdung und anarchische Brechungen. Gemeinsam schaffen sie spannungsreiche musikalische Verbindungen zwischen John Cage und Cecil Taylor.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Lisa Ullén «Borderlands», Disorder, 2015 ¦Lisa Ullén «Look Right», LJ-Records, 2011 ¦Lisa Ullén «Catachresis», Nu Scope, 2010.

www lisaullen.com ¦ matsaleklint.com

22.30h ● H e d v i g M O L L E S T A D T R I O
Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen, guitar
Ellen Brekken, bass
Ivor Loe Bjørnstad, drums
NO

Das aktuellste und vierte Album der norwegischen Gitarristin Hedvig Mollestad Thomassen heisst «Black Stabat Mater». Gleichzeitig erschien «Evil in Oslo» mit einem Livemitschnitt, der an Intensität keine Wünsche offenlässt. Frühere Albumtitel wie «All of them Witches», «Enfant Terrible» und «Shoot!» geben die Richtung vor.
Das Hedvig Mollestad Trio ist seit acht Jahren unterwegs, spielt Jazz wie Rock oder Rock wie Jazz, jedenfalls gerne laut. Immer mit Ellen Brekken am treibenden Bass, der auch mal ein Kontrabass sein kann. Ivor Loe Bjørnstad pusht zusätzlich hinter dem Schlagzeug. Sie lassen es ganz schön krachen, psychedelische Feedbacks wie bei Jimi Hendrix und eine Intensität wie bei Sonny Sharrock. Triomusik zwischen Pyrotechnik, Hardrock und Metal, Donnergrollen und zuckenden Blitzen. Himmlisch abgefahren.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Hedvig Mollestad Trio «Black Stabat Mater», Rune Grammofon, 2016 ¦Hedvig Mollestad Trio «Evil in Oslo», Rune Grammofon, 2016 ¦Hedvig Mollestad Trio «All of them Witches», Rune Grammofon, 2013.

www runegrammofon.com ¦ ellenbrekken.com

—

6. Mai 2017
20:00

20h ● J u l i e K J Æ R 3
61_juliekjaer3_570px.jpg
Julie Kjær, altosax
John Edwards, bass
Steve Noble, drums
DK/GB

Das Julie Kjær 3 hat sich seit 2013 vor allem in den Londoner Jazzclubs Vortex und Cafe Oto warm gespielt. Die aus dem dänischen Aarhus stammende Altsaxofonistin hat ihren Wohnsitz für einige Jahre nach London verlegt. In dieser anregenden Umgebung hat sie sich inspirieren lassen und sich schnell in die Szene integriert. Vor zwei Jahren hinterliess sie mit Paal Nilssen-Loves Large Unit in der Fabrik einen starken Eindruck.
Nun steht sie mit ihrem Trio stärker im Zentrum, bewegt sich geschmeidig und kantig durch ihre Kompositionen. Zusammen mit Bassist John Edwards und Schlagzeuger Steve Noble kann dabei nichts schiefgehen. Die beiden sind seit den achtziger Jahren unterwegs und ab den neunziger Jahren gemeinsam. Sie gelten als die «powerhous»-Rhythmusgruppe der Londoner Szene. Nach dem Taktlos ist das Julie Kjær 3 in Japan unterwegs.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Julie Kjær 3 «Dobbeltgænger», Clean Feed, 2015 ¦Julie Kjær Pierette Ensemble «Akrostik», Gateway, 2014 ¦Steve Noble «Obscure Fluctuations», Trost, 2015.

www juliekjaer.com

21.15h ● C A R A T E U R I O O R C H E S T R A
Joachim Badenhorst, clarinet·bass-clarinet·tenorsax·voice
Jacob Wick, trumpet
Sam Kulik, trombone·guitar·voice
Nico Roig, guitar·voice
Frantz Loriot, viola·effects
Brice Soniano, bass·voice
Pascal Niggenkemper, bass·objects
Seán Carpio, drums·guitar·voice¦
BE·US·ES·FR·DE·IRL¦

Joachim Badenhorst ist ein sensibler Klangtüftler, der gut in eine lebendige Tradition eingebettet ist und auch im Trio von Han Bennink spielt. Der aus Antwerpen stammende Klarinettist und Tenorsaxofonist hat es vor zwei Jahren am Taktlos mit seinem Soloprogramm demonstriert. Nun führt er mit dem eigenwillig instrumentierten Carate Urio Orchestra seine poetischen Erkundungen weiter.
Das Orchester mit multikulturellem Hintergrund nutzt dabei das kompositorische Können, den musikalischen Witz und die individuellen Vorlieben aller beteiligten. So entstehen vielschichtig-abwechslungsreiche Klanglandschaften. Leicht wie eine Sommerbrise schwebt die Musik, ein Chor beginnt zu singen und leitet so in etwas schroffere Gefilde. Ihre soeben veröffentlichte LP heisst «Garlic and Jazz». Das Konzert dient auch der kulinarischen Erweiterung des Horizonts.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Carate Urio Orchestra «Garlic and Jazz», Klein, 2017 ¦Carate Urio Orchestra «Ljubljana», Clean Feed, 2015 ¦Carate Urio Orchestra «Lover», Klein, 2015 ¦Carate Urio Orchestra «Sparrow Mountain», Klein, 2013.

www joachimbadenhorst.com ¦ jacobwick.info ¦ samkulik.com ¦ nicoroig.com ¦ frantzloriot.com ¦ pascalniggenkemper.com ●

22.30h ● A n n a H Ö G B E R G A T T A C K
Anna Högberg, altosax
Malin Wättring, soprano-/tenorsax
Niklas Barnö, trumpet
Lisa Ullén, piano
Elsa Bergman, bass
Anna Lund, drums
SE

Die in Stockholm lebende Altsaxofonistin Anna Högberg war vergangenes Jahr mit Mats Gustafssons wuchtigem Fire! Orchestra zu Gast in der Fabrik. Sie stand zwischen den Altsaxo-fonistinnen Mette Rasmussen und Lotte Anker, in einer Reihe mit Posaunist Mats Äleklint und Trompeter Niklas Barnö. Lisa Ullén, die im Rahmen des Taktlos am Vortag ihr Quartett präsentiert, ist wie Barnö ein gewichtiger Teil von Attack.
Zu Attack gehören auch Malin Wättering, die Sopran- und Tenorsaxofon spielt und
auch mit eigenen Gruppen unterwegs ist. Aber Attack geht nicht ohne Bass und Drums. Mit Elsa Bergman und Anna Lund sind sie schlagkräftig besetzt. Attack bewahrt Tradition, hat Stil und Form. Die MusikerInnen sind neugierig, mal hymnisch wie auf «Attack», mal expressiv wie auf «Lisa med kniven», zeigen sich couragiert auf «Högberger».

Ausgewählte Tonträger Anna Högberg Attack «Attack», Omlott, 2016 ¦Anna Högberg «Doglife», Omlott, 2013 ¦Malin Wättring 4 & 8 «Glöd», Havtorn, 2015.

www malinwattring.com ¦ lisaullen.com

—

7. Mai 2017
17:00

17h ● F L U R Y U N D D I E N A C H G E B O R E N E N
Michael Flury, trombone
Bernhard Bamert, trombone
Nils Wogram, trombone
Evelinn Trouble, voice
Andrina Bollinger, voice
Colin Vallon, piano
Roman Bruderer, afrobeat
Julian Sartorius, subdivisions
DJ Kay-Zee, vinyl·wax
CH/DE

Bei Flury und Die Nachgeborenen gibt es was zu sehen. Zum Beispiel alte Grammophone mit riesigen Trichtern, einen Phonographen mit Hexenhut, einer, der «Dulcetto» heisst, und vieles mehr. Mara Züst ist in einer der «Wunderkammern», die ihr ihr Vater Andreas Züst (1947–2000) hinterlassen hat, auf Wachswalzen gestossen. Auf der ersten von 1916, die sie anhört, ist von einem Posaunisten Flury die Rede. Da hat sie sich erinnert. Der Posaunist Michael Flury hat Glück gehabt und sich an die Arbeit gemacht.
Bei Flury und Die Nachgeborenen gibt es was zu hören und das nicht zu knapp.
Zum Beispiel einen Posaunen- und einen Meerschneckentrompetenchor, einen DJ, der Vinyl und Wachszylinder zum Klingen bringt. Dann mischen ein Pianist, zwei Perkussionisten und zwei bezaubernde Sängerinnen mit. Bei den Nachgeborenen geht alte Musik in neue Musik über und umgekehrt.

Ausgewählte Tonträger Michael Flury «Flury und Die Nachgeborenen», 2017 ¦Evelinn Trouble «Arrowhead», Bakara Music, 2015 ¦Colin Vallon Trio «Danse», ECM, 2016 ¦Julian Sartorius «Zatter», Intakt, 2014.

www michaelflury.ch ¦ nilswogram.com ¦ evelinntrouble.com ¦ andrinabollinger.com ¦ colinvallon.com ¦ juliansartorius.com

20.30h ● M a r c R I B O T S O L O
Marc Ribot, guitar·voice
US

Marc Ribot ist einer der profiliertesten Musiker der Downtownszene New Yorks. Er ist viel mit seinen Bands The Young Philadelphians und Ceramic Dog unterwegs. Sein Spiel findet man auf den Alben von Tom Waits, Laurie Anderson, und er ist regelmässig in Ensembles von John Zorn zu hören. So spielte er am 30. März im Rahmen von Zorns «Bagatelle Marathon» in der schnell weltberühmt gewordenen Hamburger Elbphilharmonie.
Ribot ist sehr zurückhaltend, wenn es um Soloeinspielungen geht. Die CD «Silent Movies» wurde vor sieben Jahre veröffentlicht und «Exercises in Futility», was man mit «Übungen in Vergeblichkeit» übersetzen könnte, liegt nochmals zwei Jahre zurück. Die Titel sind Programm. Zu seinem Auftritt mit klassischer akustischer Gitarre und zum Ausklang des Taktlos schreibt er: «Das Solokonzert ist extrem leise.»

Ausgewählte Tonträger Marc Ribot «Silent Movies», Pi Recordings, 2010 ¦Marc Ribot «Exercises in Futility», Tzadik, 2008 ¦Marc Ribot & The Young Philadelphians «Live in Tokyo», Yellow Bird, 2015.

www marcribot.com