A nice review from Derek Taylor in Dusted.
Dusted Reviews: Jeff Albert’s Instigation Quartet – The Tree on the Mound:
“By the time the four align on the first of Albert’s four ‘Instigation’ pieces (inexplicably out of numerical sequence and missing two in the order), everybody sounds as if they’re more comfortably on the same page. The last three tracks in particular find the group really hitting a galvanizing stride and crafting a series of bracing contrapuntal passages. ‘Instigation Quartet #6’ unfolds as a succession of duets, the first an explosive dialogue between Jordan and Abrams, the next a slow burn from Albert and Drake before moving on to an invigorating ensemble section and roof-raising solo by Jordan. Tenor and trombone converse and cavort in ornate arcs with a level of close confluence complemented by bass and drums. It’s a consensus that carries over into the closer, a collective leap through the indelible finger-snapping groove of Anderson’s ‘The Strut.’”
Since this is my blog, I will explain the inexplicable. The numbers on the IQ pieces are just a way to identify each one. I could have just as well called them Sue, John, Paul, George, and Ringo. They aren’t a suite meant to be played in order, just a collection of similar pieces. They are out of numerical order because that order made a better CD, and they aren’t all there because some of the recordings didn’t make the CD. Just like if they were five improvisations that had non-similar abstract names.
Interestingly, in an attempt to give the pieces names that created no baggage, expectations were still created. There may eventually be a longer post based on that dilemma.
The Tree on the Mound is the new CD by Jeff Albert’s Instigation Quartet featuring Kidd Jordan, Hamid Drake, and Joshua Abrams, released by the Paris based RogueArt Label.
Get more information on the label website. Ordering direct from the label will give the most support to the people who work hard and take risks to release good music. Order here, especially if you are in Europe.
The CD is also available in finer stores and online outlets like JazzLoft, Dusty Groove, Downtown Music Gallery, and Squidco among others.
Thanks for listening.
For any Orange County or Southern Cal friends:
I will be performing at the Inaugural ICIT Symposium at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine on Friday March 1, 2013 at 8 pm. More info at http://music.arts.uci.edu/icit/symposium13/
My article “Improvisation as Tool and Intention:Organizational Approaches in Laptop Orchestras and Their Effect on Personal Musical Practices” has just been published in Critical Studies in Improvisation/Études critiques en improvisation.” View the entire issue at http://www.criticalimprov.com/issue/view/142.
This is a clear and concise presentation of the rhythmic relationship of different intervals, with some good audio examples.
Dan Tepfer // Rhythm / Pitch Duality: hear rhythm become pitch before your ears
Last night I had the honor to be a guest at Jeb Bishop’s 50th Birthday Blowout at The Green Mill in Chicago. I sat in with the quartet of Jeb, Jeff Parker, Joshua Abrams, and Hamid Drake. We did some material from Hamid’s Bindu-Reggaeology project.
There were other sets by Jeb’s trio and The Engines.
More fun tonight, when I get to guest with the trio.
I am involved in a new organization that will be presenting improvised music in New Orleans. Our first concert is December 12.
Running The Voodoo Down: WRITE A SONG:
“Speaking as a consumer and a jazz fan, I gotta say, with all due respect…f–k you guys. You wanna know why jazz albums don’t sell for shit? Because labels release recordings of lazy, entitled old-timers coasting on name recognition, sleepwalking through tunes everyone who’s into jazz has already heard 500 times before. “
Don’t hold back, Phil. Tell us how you really think.
Please, read the whole thing.
This weekend I will be in Texas performing as a guest with The Log Ladies. Check out the poster below, or go here for more details: http://jeffalbert.com/schedule/
It is again an honor to have made the Rising Star Trombone list in the 2012 DownBeat Critics Poll. These polls can sometimes be awkward, and just downright silly at other times, but I must treat any list that puts my name in such good company as an honor.
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