Listen to music that's not quite "jazz", in work from saxophonists James Brandon Lewis and JD Allen, storyteller/saxophonist Matana Roberts, and work by drummer/composer Allison Miller. Hear music by saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis, from his 2023 album Eye Of I – which is “alive with the messy contrasts of life in the United States circa 2022 – dissonant one minute and graceful/prayerful the next,” and which holds “equal space for expressions of steadfast faith and wild spontaneous skronkage,” (ANTI-). The work features amplified cello, drums and sensory percussion, along with guest cornetist Kirk Knuffke. Also, listen to electronics+jazz trio music from saxophonist JD Allen and his trio, who expertly combine blues-y riffs with electronics and drums. Also, listen to the latest in the Coin Coin series from storyteller, composer, and saxophonist Matana Roberts – from chapter 5 – in the garden. There’s chamber-jazz in work by drummer/composer/bandleader Allison Miller inspired by five major rivers of the Northeast United States, and the River Keepers who work on their maintenance. One of her tunes evokes a train ride up the Hudson River, and features violinist Jenny Scheinman. Then, hear music for octet from bassist/composer Todd Sickafoose, which features many of the same players as in Miller’s chamber jazz record. From his latest release, Bear Proof, hear “Prospects”, part of a long-form suite which interprets high times and utter ruin in music. Plus, hear orchestrated and expansive jazz by Darcy James Argue and his Secret Society ensemble from his 2023 double album, Dynamic Maximum Tension. In his inspired way, many of the works on the record came from thinking about figures of a more optimistic time like Buckminster Fuller, Alan Turing, and Mae West, people who might “rekindle my faith in our ability to grab the future and shape it ourselves,” (Nonesuch Journal). - Caryn Havlik Program #4808, Not Quite Jazz (First aired 10/30/2023) ARTIST: James Brandon LewisWORK: Donny Hathaway: Someday We'll All Be Free [1:24]RECORDING: Eye of ISOURCE: ANTI-RecordsINFO: https://jblewis.ffm.to/eyeofi ARTIST: Allison MillerWORK: Hudson [5:03]RECORDING: Rivers In Our VeinsSOURCE: Royal Potato FamilyINFO: allisonmiller.bandcamp.com ARTIST: James Brandon LewisWORK: Donny Hathaway: Someday We'll All Be Free [5:34]RECORDING: Eye of ISOURCE: ANTI-RecordsINFO: https://jblewis.ffm.to/eyeofi ARTIST: JD AllenWORK: This [6:03]RECORDING: ThisSOURCE: HighNote / Savant RecordsINFO: https://li.sten.to/z0td9lxo ARTIST: AnenonWORK: Two for C [5:16]RECORDING: TongueSOURCE: Friends of FriendsINFO: https://anenon.bandcamp.com/album/tongue ARTIST: Matana RobertsWORK: we said [3:30]RECORDING: Coin Coin chapter 5 - in the garden…SOURCE: Constellation RecordsINFO: https://lnk.to/cst170 ARTIST: Darcy James Argue's Secret SocietyWORK: Ferromagnetic [9:16]RECORDING: Dynamic Maximum TensionSOURCE: Nonesuch RecordsINFO: https://darcyjamesargue.lnk.to/DynamicMaximumTension ARTIST: Todd SickafooseWORK: Prospects [4:25]RECORDING: Bear ProofSOURCE: Secret Hatch RecordsINFO: https://toddsickafoose.bandcamp.com/album/bear-proof
Listen to music that's not quite "jazz", in work from saxophonists James Brandon Lewis and JD Allen, storyteller/saxophonist Matana Roberts, and work by drummer/composer Allison Miller.
Hear music by saxophonist and composer James Brandon Lewis, from his 2023 album Eye Of I – which is “alive with the messy contrasts of life in the United States circa 2022 – dissonant one minute and graceful/prayerful the next,” and which holds “equal space for expressions of steadfast faith and wild spontaneous skronkage,” (ANTI-). The work features amplified cello, drums and sensory percussion, along with guest cornetist Kirk Knuffke. Also, listen to electronics+jazz trio music from saxophonist JD Allen and his trio, who expertly combine blues-y riffs with electronics and drums. Also, listen to the latest in the Coin Coin series from storyteller, composer, and saxophonist Matana Roberts – from chapter 5 – in the garden.
There’s chamber-jazz in work by drummer/composer/bandleader Allison Miller inspired by five major rivers of the Northeast United States, and the River Keepers who work on their maintenance. One of her tunes evokes a train ride up the Hudson River, and features violinist Jenny Scheinman. Then, hear music for octet from bassist/composer Todd Sickafoose, which features many of the same players as in Miller’s chamber jazz record. From his latest release, Bear Proof, hear “Prospects”, part of a long-form suite which interprets high times and utter ruin in music.
Plus, hear orchestrated and expansive jazz by Darcy James Argue and his Secret Society ensemble from his 2023 double album, Dynamic Maximum Tension. In his inspired way, many of the works on the record came from thinking about figures of a more optimistic time like Buckminster Fuller, Alan Turing, and Mae West, people who might “rekindle my faith in our ability to grab the future and shape it ourselves,” (Nonesuch Journal). - Caryn Havlik
Program #4808, Not Quite Jazz (First aired 10/30/2023)
ARTIST: James Brandon LewisWORK: Donny Hathaway: Someday We'll All Be Free [1:24]RECORDING: Eye of ISOURCE: ANTI-RecordsINFO: https://jblewis.ffm.to/eyeofi
ARTIST: Allison MillerWORK: Hudson [5:03]RECORDING: Rivers In Our VeinsSOURCE: Royal Potato FamilyINFO: allisonmiller.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: James Brandon LewisWORK: Donny Hathaway: Someday We'll All Be Free [5:34]RECORDING: Eye of ISOURCE: ANTI-RecordsINFO: https://jblewis.ffm.to/eyeofi
ARTIST: JD AllenWORK: This [6:03]RECORDING: ThisSOURCE: HighNote / Savant RecordsINFO: https://li.sten.to/z0td9lxo
ARTIST: AnenonWORK: Two for C [5:16]RECORDING: TongueSOURCE: Friends of FriendsINFO: https://anenon.bandcamp.com/album/tongue
ARTIST: Matana RobertsWORK: we said [3:30]RECORDING: Coin Coin chapter 5 - in the garden…SOURCE: Constellation RecordsINFO: https://lnk.to/cst170
ARTIST: Darcy James Argue's Secret SocietyWORK: Ferromagnetic [9:16]RECORDING: Dynamic Maximum TensionSOURCE: Nonesuch RecordsINFO: https://darcyjamesargue.lnk.to/DynamicMaximumTension
ARTIST: Todd SickafooseWORK: Prospects [4:25]RECORDING: Bear ProofSOURCE: Secret Hatch RecordsINFO: https://toddsickafoose.bandcamp.com/album/bear-proof