Saturday, June 12, 2010

Music and a special event

More ECM in the fold: Ketil Bjornsad's "Remembrance" is pretty typical ECM chamber jazz. Interesting configuration, with the leader's piano alongside Tore Brunborg's tenor sax and ECM stalwart Jon Christensen's drums. Altogether more appealing are upcoming discs from Food and Dino Saluzzi. Food is a quartet featuring Iain Ballamy (Bill Bruford's Earthworks) on sax alongside drums, trumpet, and guitar, with the latter three throwing mucho electronic sparks in the air as well. Not unlistenable avant weird, like Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, but fun and engaging while sounding like nothing else. Or at least like not much else.

Saluzzi's "El Encuentro" is likewise great stuff. Again, more unique instrumentation, with the leader on bandoneon (a type of accordion), alongside cello, saxophone and orchestra. The approach varies from keening sounds to chamber orchestra/jazz.

I'm also in love — with Julie Slick. The versatile electric bassist is from the Trey Gunn/Brian Beller school of dark, doom and gloom avant rock. That should perhaps be expected with contributions from Gunn's occasional collaborator Marco Minnneman and his former Crimson bandmates Pat Mastelotto and the Fripp himself. Not the kind of thing you'll end up humming as you drive down the road, but hey, neither are the ECM discs.

In non-music news, Marc graduated today from Traverse City West High School. Summa cum laude, no less, and the outstanding Language Arts student. Pretty impressive kid. Takes after his mom.

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