Reviews that mention Ken Aldcroft
July 6, 2016
Live at the Tranzac Vol. 1
Trio Records TRP DS04-023
By Ken Waxman
Toronto’s Tranzac isn’t Carnegie Hall. The midtown space, initially a social club for Australians and New Zealanders – hence the name – is now one of the city’s busiest outposts for music, improvised and other. Like NYC’s ABC No Rio or 5C Cultural Center though, adventurous sounds compensate for the grungy environment, with guitarist Ken Aldcroft one of the most active organizers here and at other city spots. Besides collaborating with many locals, Aldcroft has built up ongoing relationships with out-of-towners like Wilbert de Joode and Joe McPhee. Live at the Tranzac Vol. 1 preserves a particularly inspired set by the guitarist and bassist William Parker. Unlike some well-known players who arrive in a city as if they’re Old West gunslingers bringing their sharpshooting skill to help beleaguered townsfolk, Parker is more like a visiting firefighter called in to a natural disaster. He’s there to cooperative with others to get the job done the best way possible. MORE
January 11, 2015
10/09/11
Trio Records TRP-019
By Ken Waxman
Every since he arrived in Toronto from his native Vancouver in 2001, guitarist Ken Aldcroft has been a constant presence on this city’s improvised music scene. Whether helping to organize concerts, teaching, playing solo gigs or as part of ensembles of varied sizes, he’s constantly exceeding expectations of what jazz involves. Also exceeding expectations is the first CD by his newest ensemble, which presents this music in concert at Jazz at Oscar’s this month. MORE
November 30, 2011
Year of the Boar
Barnyard Records BR0322
Pat Thomas/Oxford Improvisers Orchestra
4 Compositions for Orchestra
FMR CD 293-0810
Spurred by the world-wide conduction projects of Butch Morris and their results, improvising ensembles in Europe and North America have been organized to advance the concept of playing free music on a larger scale.
Although there are notable orchestras in expected places such as London, New York and Berlin, often the most remarkable, and certainly the most original, large group interpretations come from bands in smaller centres. Working with a group of like-minded musicians in his hometown, for instance, British pianist/electronics manipulator Pat Thomas has composed dissimilar pieces for the Oxford Improvisers Orchestra (OIO) on this CD. Involving voices, non-Western instruments, a tribute to a Jazz master and a literal violin concerto, each moves in a different fashion. Toronto’s AIM Toronto Orchestra (AIMTO) on the other hand plays pieces by four different composers on its seven-track CD. However under the direction of artistic director/soprano saxophonist Kyle Brenders, who penned the two lengthiest pieces, a harmonic uniformity exists. MORE
February 6, 2010
Our Hospitality
Trio Records TRP-010
Gordon Grinda’s East Van Strings
The Breathing Of Statues
Songlines SGL-SA 1572-2
Gordon Grinda Trio
If Accident Will
Plunge Records PR00628
The Tony Wilson Sextet
The People Look Like Flowers at Last
Drip Audio DA 00482
Extended Play: Versatile Canadian Guitarists Score
By Ken Waxman
Arguably more responsible than any other instrument over the past century for famous and infamous music, the electric guitar is a harsh taskmaster, especially for musicians creating innovative sounds. Luckily the six-string’s versatility can be adapted to a variety of sonic situations. Mixing original concepts with sympathetic musical partners make each of these discs notable. MORE
February 6, 2010
The People Look Like Flowers at Last
Drip Audio DA 00482
Gordon Grinda’s East Van Strings
The Breathing Of Statues
Songlines SGL-SA 1572-2
Gordon Grinda Trio
If Accident Will
Plunge Records PR00628
Ken Aldcroft
Our Hospitality
Trio Records TRP-010
Extended Play: Versatile Canadian Guitarists Score
By Ken Waxman
Arguably more responsible than any other instrument over the past century for famous and infamous music, the electric guitar is a harsh taskmaster, especially for musicians creating innovative sounds. Luckily the six-string’s versatility can be adapted to a variety of sonic situations. Mixing original concepts with sympathetic musical partners make each of these discs notable. MORE
February 6, 2010
Gordon Grinda’s East Van Strings
The Breathing Of Statues
Songlines SGL-SA 1572-2
Gordon Grinda Trio
If Accident Will
Plunge Records PR00628
The Tony Wilson Sextet
The People Look Like Flowers at Last
Drip Audio DA 00482
Ken Aldcroft
Our Hospitality
Trio Records TRP-010
Extended Play: Versatile Canadian Guitarists Score
By Ken Waxman
Arguably more responsible than any other instrument over the past century for famous and infamous music, the electric guitar is a harsh taskmaster, especially for musicians creating innovative sounds. Luckily the six-string’s versatility can be adapted to a variety of sonic situations. Mixing original concepts with sympathetic musical partners make each of these discs notable. MORE
February 6, 2010
If Accident Will
Plunge Records PR00628
Gordon Grinda’s East Van Strings
The Breathing Of Statues
Songlines SGL-SA 1572-2
The Tony Wilson Sextet
The People Look Like Flowers at Last
Drip Audio DA 00482
Ken Aldcroft
Our Hospitality
Trio Records TRP-010
Extended Play: Versatile Canadian Guitarists Score
By Ken Waxman
Arguably more responsible than any other instrument over the past century for famous and infamous music, the electric guitar is a harsh taskmaster, especially for musicians creating innovative sounds. Luckily the six-string’s versatility can be adapted to a variety of sonic situations. Mixing original concepts with sympathetic musical partners make each of these discs notable. MORE
February 1, 2009
Vocabulary
Trio Records TRP-SS01-008
Ken Aldcroft’s Convergence Ensemble
Trolleys
Trio Records TRP-009
Kyle Brenders
Flows and Intensities
No Label No #
Anthony Braxton & the AIMToronto Orchestra
Creative Orchestra (Guelph) 2007
Spool Line SPL 130
EXTENDED PLAY – AIMToronto
By Ken Waxman
Barely four years since its founding, The Association of Improvising Musicians Toronto (AIMToronto), has raised the profile of local improvisers, while nurturing the scene. This almost 200-member, non-profit collective helps find venues in which to hear improvised music – most prominently Somewhere There in Parkdale – presents concerts featuring visiting musicians interacting with locals, and has organized a large improvisers orchestra. One of AIMToronto’s highest profile gigs took place at the Guelph Jazz Festival in 2007, where 18 AIMToronto members played the music of the American improv guru Anthony Braxton with the composer on soprano saxophone. The result was Creative Orchestra (Guelph). It showcases 18 AIMToronto members following the ever-shifting tonal centres in five Braxton compositions. MORE
February 1, 2009
Flows and Intensities
No Label No #
Anthony Braxton & the AIMToronto Orchestra
Creative Orchestra (Guelph) 2007
Spool Line SPL 130
Ken Aldcroft’s Convergence Ensemble
Trolleys
Trio Records TRP-009
Ken Aldcroft
Vocabulary
Trio Records TRP-SS01-008
EXTENDED PLAY – AIMToronto
By Ken Waxman
Barely four years since its founding, The Association of Improvising Musicians Toronto (AIMToronto), has raised the profile of local improvisers, while nurturing the scene. This almost 200-member, non-profit collective helps find venues in which to hear improvised music – most prominently Somewhere There in Parkdale – presents concerts featuring visiting musicians interacting with locals, and has organized a large improvisers orchestra. One of AIMToronto’s highest profile gigs took place at the Guelph Jazz Festival in 2007, where 18 AIMToronto members played the music of the American improv guru Anthony Braxton with the composer on soprano saxophone. The result was Creative Orchestra (Guelph). It showcases 18 AIMToronto members following the ever-shifting tonal centres in five Braxton compositions. MORE
February 1, 2009
Anthony Braxton & the AIMToronto Orchestra
Creative Orchestra (Guelph) 2007
Spool Line SPL 130
Ken Aldcroft’s Convergence Ensemble
Trolleys
Trio Records TRP-009
Ken Aldcroft
Vocabulary
Trio Records TRP-SS01-008
Kyle Brenders
Flows and Intensities
No Label No #
EXTENDED PLAY – AIMToronto
By Ken Waxman
Barely four years since its founding, The Association of Improvising Musicians Toronto (AIMToronto), has raised the profile of local improvisers, while nurturing the scene. This almost 200-member, non-profit collective helps find venues in which to hear improvised music – most prominently Somewhere There in Parkdale – presents concerts featuring visiting musicians interacting with locals, and has organized a large improvisers orchestra. One of AIMToronto’s highest profile gigs took place at the Guelph Jazz Festival in 2007, where 18 AIMToronto members played the music of the American improv guru Anthony Braxton with the composer on soprano saxophone. The result was Creative Orchestra (Guelph). It showcases 18 AIMToronto members following the ever-shifting tonal centres in five Braxton compositions. MORE