Tomas Fujiwara - March On [2023]

Published on PostGenre

The main attraction of March On is the title track, a towering 31-minute improvisation. There are strong juxtapositions, and how these disparate parts align and explode is a key aspect of its appeal. In the beginning, Mary Halvorson's guitar has a calm, spacey tone, but it operates in a space full of agile, angular riffing courtesy of Ralph (Alessi's trumpet. Brandon Seabrook's guitar is the perfect foil to Halvorson. In the first portion of the improvisation, his metallic echo provides an interesting contrast to Halvorson's more psychedelic effects. There are moments of extended sparsity in "March On," but ultimately, the track is a masterful exercise in building toward wrathful storms. The combination of Tomas Fujiwara and Gerald Cleaver's thunderous drums and guitar playing fit for a noise-rock album creates one of the most aggressive passages of the Triple Double discography. The sharp tone of Taylor Ho Bynum's cornet is a fine partner to the chaos and it cuts through the fray like a piercing scream. The cornet's writhing is also important in the more low-key moments, with one particular passage stepping into melancholic melodic territory courtesy of Halvorson. The musical dialogue briefly moves into some head-nodding grooves led by the drums in the second half and a knotty collective improvisation by the rest of the band that gets more complex as it progresses. The chemistry on display throughout "March On" is stunning. March On is a terrific bookend to Triple Double’s excellent March (Firehouse 12, 2022) - a highly recommended listen for fans of the contemporary avant-garde jazz scene. 

Tyshawn Sorey - Unfiltered [2020]

 

Multi-instrumentalist and composer Tyshawn Sorey is a master of modern creative music. Unfiltered has Sorey on drums joined by five talented young musicians, Nathan Reising (alto saxophone), Morgan Guerin (tenor saxophone), Lex Korten (piano), Nick Dunston (bass), and Sasha Berliner (vibraphone). Those who have heard Sorey's recent work as a bandleader may be surprised at the relatively grounded nature of this two-hour piece. Unlike past albums such as Verisimilitude or Pillars, Unfiltered is not a release characterized by overtly modern classical or free improvisation elements. However, this has not changed a key aspect of Sorey's work: riveting complexity and extremely high quality. 

Tomas Fujiwara - 7 Poets Trio [2019]

Published on NextBop

When one thinks of jazz trios, the combination found on 7 Poets Trio is probably not what comes to mind. Then again, when looking at the members of this trio, each one being a mainstay in the boundary pushing avant-garde jazz scene of New York City, it makes perfect sense. 7 Poets Trio is a riveting collaboration between Patricia Brennan (vibraphone), Tomeka Reid (cello) and Tomas Fujiwara (drums). All of the compositions here, with the exception of "Questions", were written by Fujiwara exclusively for Reid and Brennan and it definitely shows - the connection among the three musicians is extraordinary. 

Andrew Munsey - High Tide [2019]

Published on NextBop

Debut records can make or break an artist, but it seems that drummer Andrew Munsey already has it figured out. Munsey has worked in the past as a sideman and a producer, but he takes his first step as a bandleader on High Tide. The album features ten strong compositions that are brought to life by a talented quintet. The drummer is joined by Steph Richards (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ochion Jewell (tenor saxophone, kalimba), Amino Belyamani (piano, fender rhodes) and Sam Minaie (double bass). 

Andrew Drury's Content Provider - Try [2018]

Published on Free Jazz Blog

In the sophomore album by Andrew Drury's Content provider, Try, the drummer continues his habit of being involved in quality experimental jazz. Drury, who handles all of the compositions, is joined by musicians who are also mainstays in the New York avant-garde music scene: Ingrid Laubrock (tenor and soprano saxophones, autoharp), Briggan Krauss (alto saxophone, guitar) and Brandon Seabrook (guitar). Though Content Provider can be quite abrasive, and thrives in that energy, the record also has very well played atmospheric moments. This is notable on "Cassandra", the sole track that features Krauss on guitar.

Quin Kirchner - The Other Side of Time [2018]

Published on NextBop

When speaking of jazz cities, New York and New Orleans are the ones that immediately come to mind, however, Chicago also deserves a shout. The city is no stranger to jazz creativity, being the home of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians and having a scene which honed the chops of talented modern jazz names such as Tomeka Reid, Jaimie Branch and Matana Roberts. Drummer Quin Kirchner, a Chi-Town native, proves to be another quality example of the Chicago scene in his debut record, The Other Side of Time. The bandleader is an integral part of his skillful quintet made up of Nick Broste (trombone), Nate Lepine (tenor saxophone, flute), Jason Stein (bass clarinet) and Matt Ulery (bass).

Tomas Fujiwara - Triple Double [2017]

Published on NextBop

Tomas Fujiwara has been active for well over a decade now, with his first recorded date as a sideman being on Matana Robert’s The Calling in 2006. Just a quick look at his discography shows that Fujiwara has established himself as a respected musician - specifically in the more avant-garde portion of the New York City jazz scene. The drummer has frequently collaborated with fellow adventurers guitarist Mary Halvorson, cornetist Taylor Ho Bynum and bassist Michael Formanek. In the past year, he has shown up on Ho Bynum’s expansive, at times Mingus-esque Enter the Plus-Tet, Formanek’s engaging big-band experiments in The Distance and Halvorson’s inventive interpretations of John Zorn’s Klezmer-influenced compositions on Paimon: Book of Angels Volume 32. Throughout the years, in addition to his releases as leader of Tomas Fujiwara & The Hook Up, Fujiwara, Halvorson and Formanek have toured and recorded together as a trio under the name of Thumbscrew. Although the next Thumbscrew records will not be released until 2018, on Triple Double, Fujiwara has brought Halvorson, Ho Bynum and other talented musicians along for the ride of his latest interesting take on the trio format.