Reviews that mention Roger Arntzen
May 28, 2017
Abaft the Beam
Clean Feed CF 403 CD
Like the skill of some overseas manufacturers to replicate North American products so that in look, function and quality they’re almost equivalent, Ballrogg’s comprehensive sound is rooted in the rustic Jazz qualities advocated by the likes of Bill Frisell and Jimmy Giuffre. Yet precisely because the trio’s consists of Norwegian, like a rugged version of a sleek American article, the sonic landscape is sparser, with echoes of minimalist contemporary notation as well as folksy airs. MORE
September 6, 2012
Cabin Music
Hubro CD 2515
Albert Beger/Gerry Hemingway
There’s Nothing Better to Do
OutNow Records ONR 007
Matthew Shipp Trio
Elastic Aspects
Thirsty Ear TH 57202.2
ROVA Saxophone Quartet
A Short History
Jazzwerkstatt JW 099
Something in The Air: New Excitement at the Guelph Jazz Festival
By Ken Waxman
One of jazz’s watershed musical creations, John Coltrane’s 1965 performance of Ascension marked his committeemen to Free Jazz and has since served as a yardstick against which saxophone-centred large ensemble improvisations are measured. On September 7 at the River Run Centre’s main stage, one of the highpoints of this year’s Guelph Jazz Festival is a reimagining of Coltrane’s masterwork by the Bay area-based ROVA Saxophone Quartet and guests. Not only is the ensemble gutsily tackling the suite, but its arrangement take Coltrane’s all-acoustic piece for five saxes, two trumpets and rhythm section and reconfigures it so that ROVA’s four saxes, and one trumpeter interact with two drummers, two violins, electric guitar and bass plus electronic processing. MORE