Articles by Glenn Astarita
Stephan Crump: Slow Water
by Glenn Astarita
Bassist-composer Stephan Crump's sonic odyssey Slow Water is a profound exploration of the essence and myriad forms of water. It goes beyond merely depicting its physical flow; rather, it delves into the symbolic and existential significances that water holds. This project emerges as a creative masterwork, reflecting Crump's deep contemplation of humanity's intricate relationship with this elemental force. Inspired by a lifetime of individual experiences and societal observations, Crump crafts an album that is both thought-provoking and sonically captivating.
read moreIRIS: IRIS
by Glenn Astarita
IRIS is a self-titled debut, encapsulating the vibrant spirit of Chicago's jazz scene. The ensemble, composed of Arman Sangalang (tenor saxophone), Kirby Fellis (trombone), Austyn Menk (piano), Morgan Turner (bass) and Paul Barrilles (drums and cymbals), marries the rich traditions of hard bop and post-bop with a fresh, contemporary outlook. The album opens with “Easy Does It," a piece by Sangalang inspired by a new music venue in Chicago, setting a tone of camaraderie and spirited interplay with ...
read moreDisaster Pony: Disaster Pony
by Glenn Astarita
Disaster Pony, the eponymous debut from the trio composed of Gordon Hyland, Adam Hindle and Ian Docherty, transcends the confines of a typical musical album to become a tempestuous jazz endeavor that finds itself amidst an electronic dance music (EDM) celebration. Envision a saxophone endowed with autonomy, weaving through electronic rhythms while adorned in a distinctive hat--such is the essence captured herein. The ensemble, equipped with diverse instruments and an audacious indifference to genre demarcations, embarks on a mission to ...
read moreOld Mountain: Another State Of Rhythm
by Glenn Astarita
Clean Feed Records has once again proven its prowess in bringing innovative jazz to the forefront, and Old Mountain's latest offering is a guiding light for those seeking to venture beyond the conventional boundaries of the genre. Each member brings a distinctive flair, yet their interplay feels seamless, creating a soundscape that is rich in texture and depth. Old Mountain's latest album, Another State of Rhythm, invites listeners on a contemplative journey. This quintet, featuring Pedro Branco on ...
read moreMichiel Stekelenburg: Catharsis
by Glenn Astarita
Dutch guitarist Michiel Stekelenburg is also a composer and educator known for his contributions to the jazz genre, though his origins in rock music significantly influence both his playing and compositions. His versatility as a session guitarist has seen him being a member of several pop and soul bands, alongside leading his own jazz and improvisational projects. On Catharsis, he emerges as a seasoned alchemist while consolidating his innermost feelings into a potent elixir of sound. The album ...
read moreJim Baker / Steve Hunt / Jakob Heinemann: Horizon Scanners
by Glenn Astarita
In jazz and improvisational music, the Chicago scene has long been a fertile ground for innovative soundscapes and daring musical ventures. Horizon Scanners, the latest offering from the captivating Chicagoan piano trio of Jim Baker, Steve Hunt and Jakob Heinemann, stands as a testament to this rich musical tradition. It invites listeners on an enthralling journey through sound, emotion and exploration. As the album evolves, it delves into angular, deeply exploratory soundscapes. Thus, Baker's dexterous harmonic variations blend seamlessly with ...
read moreGiusto Chamber Orchestra: 3 Works For Strings
by Glenn Astarita
Nikolaus Gerszewski's journey in music is characterized by a deep engagement with the fundamentals of sound and silence, often drawing on minimalist aesthetics to create compositions that challenge and expand the listener's perception of time and space within music. His approach to composition frequently involves the deconstruction of traditional harmonic and melodic development, instead favoring processes that highlight repetition, texture and the physical properties of sound. 3 Works for Strings as performed by the Giusto Chamber Orchestra offers ...
read moreDave Harrington - Max Jaffe - Patrick Shiroishi: Speak Moment
by Glenn Astarita
This trio, co-led by guitarist Dave Harrington, drummer Max Jaffe and saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi, embarks on a sonic journey that defies conventions and invites listeners to explore extraterrestrial territories. Speak, Moment is a collection of five group improvisations, captured in a single afternoon. Imagine these three remarkable musicians huddled together, instruments in hand, weaving intricate soundscapes with intuition and spontaneity. The result? An album that oscillates between ethereal contemplation and raw, unfiltered noise-shaping The music is ...
read moreDave Douglas: Gifts
by Glenn Astarita
Dave Douglas' Gifts emerges not merely as a collection of tracks but as an opulent gala in honor of the eternal essence of music, welcoming audiences across the spectrum of generations to partake in its celebration. This project is akin to a masterfully blended concoction of shared human emotions and experiences, articulated through the universal dialect of melodies that defy time constraints. It is a sonic tour de force, intricately weaving together the threads of history, the present and what ...
read moreGlod / Ramond / Kugel: No ToXiC
by Glenn Astarita
The collaborative marvel that is No ToXiC, hatched in the fertile grounds of NEMU Records, is less an album and more of a dare--a sonic gauntlet thrown at the feet of free jazz and improvisation. Roby Glod (who flirts with both alto and soprano saxophones), double bassist Christian Ramond and drummer Klaus Kugel take us on a journey that laughs in the face of convention. Right out of the gate, “Unconscious Superglitzer" demands attention, not politely but like ...
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