My first exposure to Ivar Grydeland’s music was his 2012 Hubro solo album, “Bathymetric Modes” – sparse yet warm, humorous, completely unpredictable and yet with clear form and structure (yes, I liked it). Delving deeper, I found his work with improvisers Huntsville (also Hubro) and Dans les arbres (whose ECM debut was described in The…
Rounding off the Free Nelson Mandoomjazz series, Colin Stewart (whose electric bass brings much of the structure to FNMDJ’s tunes) takes up the challenge and answers the same questions as Rebecca Sneddon and Paul Archibald… 1. What was your first musical instrument, and what did it mean to you? My first musical instrument was actually…
As promised, more Free Nelson Mandoomjazz. This week sees Paul Archibald (who hits things in order to produce beautiful sound) answering the same questions alto sax-er Rebecca Sneddon did seven days ago. 1. What was your first musical instrument, and what did it mean to you? An old piano, which is what I first learned…
Free jazz and doom metal – It’s a combination that makes a lot of sense; both are, in their own ways, about a deliberate yet liberated distillation of noise. There aren’t too many sonic alchemists playing with these particular elements, but Free Nelson Mandoomjazz are masters (and mistress) of the craft. Originating in Edinburgh, now…
Interesting programming for this last day of the Tampere Jazz Happening, all women-led ensembles. Skip to the end of this post for my rambling thoughts about that, but in the meantime, next stop the Pakkahuone hall… Life and Other Transient Storms Susana Santos Silva – trumpet, flugelhorn Lotte Anker – saxophones Sten Sandell – piano…
