Marvelous, though under-attended, performance last night at Philly’s International House by the Exploding Star Orchestra Quintet — a scaled-down incarnation of the group that released We Are All from Somewhere Else (Thrill Jockey) earlier this year. Even in the smaller-group context, orchestral timbres abounded, thanks in part to Rob Mazurek’s delay-enhanced cornet (distinct shades of Bill Dixon) and the painterly, kinetic vibraphone work of Jason Adasiewicz (pronounced a-da-‘she-vitz). Matt Bauder bolstered the front line on tenor sax and bass clarinet, while bassist Jason Ajemian and drummer Mike Reed nailed down all kinds of tempos and transitions. (Reed’s records on the 482 label are well worth exploring.) Swinging, grooving, free in many respects yet organized and involved: this is the Chicago way today, coming to us in Philadelphia via the Ars Nova Workshop.
Next on the ANW calendar: Ellery Eskelin (tenor sax), Vincent Courtois (cello), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano). Thursday, September 13 at Penn’s Rose Recital Hall.
6 Comments
Glad to see commentary on last week's performance. A couple of corrections: the ensemble was certainly not a quintet, weighing in with at 12 musicians strong. And one would be remiss not to mention the guest soloist Bill Dixon, whose presence was lilely the most direct artistic link to the overall premise of the series (Anti Jazz Revisited), as architect of The (storied) October Revolution, and one of the subjects of the original Downbeat piece that the series title references.
Stephen, you're commenting on a post that is over two years old. But thank you.
Ah, silly me. Did you see the concert?
No, couldn't be there, I'm back living in NY.
Have you heard Bill Dixon's newest work Tapestries for Small Orchestra on Firehouse 12 Records? Do you have interest in reviewing the work?
I'm in touch with the label on it, thanks.