Reviews that mention Aaron Alexander
April 12, 2015
Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
Shiki
Libra Records 215-036
Ananda Gari
T-Duality
Auand Records AU 9041
Tineke Postma
Sonic Halo
Challenge Records CR 73370
Ben Goldberg
Orphic Machine
BAG Productions BAG 007
SITA: Cutting-Edge Free Improvisation at The Music Gallery
By Ken Waxman
Major improvisers from elsewhere frequently play Toronto, but not as often do they appear with an all-star line-up. That’s what happens on April 29 when alto saxophonist Tim Berne’s Snakeoil is in concert at The Music Gallery. Berne, who has been on the cutting edge of advanced jazz for 30-odd years, arrives with three younger players who have distinguished themselves on the New York scene: fellow reedist Oscar Noriega, pianist Matt Mitchell and drummer Ches Smith. This being the 21th Century and past the age of consistently working groups, each – including Berne – is involved in many other projects. MORE
July 11, 2012
Satoko Fujii Orchestra New York
ETO
Libra Records 215-029
Le GGRIL avec Evan Parker
Vivaces
Tour de Bras TDB9006 CD
The Royal Improvisers Orchestra
Live at the Bimhuis
Riot Impro 01
London Improvisers Orchestra
Lio Leo Leon
psi 11.04
Something in the Air: New Soloists for Improvising Ensembles
By Ken Waxman
Adding another voice to an established improvising ensemble is more precarious than it seems. With a group having worked out strategies allowing for individual expression within a larger context – and without notated cues – the visitor(s) must be original without unbalancing the interface. Luckily the sessions here demonstrate successful applications. MORE
December 2, 2009
tsuker-zis
Tzadik TZ 8141
Greg Wall’s Later Prophets
Ha’orot: The Lights of Rav Kook
Tzadik TZ 8137
Retro Boppers who take their improvisational cues from the music of the 1950s, and Classic Jazz players, who try to replicate 1920s New Orleans Jazz, are veritable late comers when compared to the musical traditions wedded to Jazz on these memorable releases. Reedist Greg Wall, trumpeter Frank London and vocalist Lorin Sklamberg put their musical smarts to work on ecstatic sounds related to the Hasidic Movement, which originated in Eastern European in the 18th Century; tinged with shtetl-popular Klezmer music developed even earlier; involving concepts, lyrics and melodies going back to Talmudic pre-history. MORE
December 2, 2009
Ha’orot: The Lights of Rav Kook
Tzadik TZ 8137
Frank London/Lorin Sklamberg
tsuker-zis
Tzadik TZ 8141
Retro Boppers who take their improvisational cues from the music of the 1950s, and Classic Jazz players, who try to replicate 1920s New Orleans Jazz, are veritable late comers when compared to the musical traditions wedded to Jazz on these memorable releases. Reedist Greg Wall, trumpeter Frank London and vocalist Lorin Sklamberg put their musical smarts to work on ecstatic sounds related to the Hasidic Movement, which originated in Eastern European in the 18th Century; tinged with shtetl-popular Klezmer music developed even earlier; involving concepts, lyrics and melodies going back to Talmudic pre-history. MORE