Mars Williams Presents An Ayler Xmas Vol. 4: Chicago vs. NYC [2CD]

Avant Jazz / Free Improvisation / Avant-Garde
premiera polska: 2021-03-17
kontynent: Ameryka Północna
kraj: USA
opakowanie: digipackowe etui
opis:
multikulti.com - ocena * * * * 1/2:
Mars Williams Presents An Ayler Xmas po raz czwarty!
Tak na prawdę, to po raz czwarty i piąty, bo pierwszy dysk nagrany został w Chicago (Hungry Brain 12.15.2019), drugi w Nowym Jorku (DiMenna Center 12.21.19).

Świecką tradycją (chociaż to religijne święto) jest, że Mars Williams, prawdziwa jazzowa torpeda, pierwszy saksofonowy współpartner Kena Vandemarka w jego The Vandermark 5 nieustająco rotuje składami tego projektu. On jest pomysłodawcą, frontmanem i mistrzem ceremonii, muzyków dobiera samodzielnie.

O trzech poprzednich odsłonach pisano bez wyjątków entuzjastycznie. Bo jakże inaczej pisać o zespole zaprojektowanym tak, aby spotykał się Albert Ayler i piosenki bożonarodzeniowe?, jakże inaczej pisać o zespołach, w których w koncertowych okolicznościach spotykali się Josh Berman, Jim Baker, Kent Kessler, Brian Sandstrom, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Steve Hunt: Drums, Thomas Berghammer, Jeb Bishop, Jamie Branch, Knox Chandler, Mark Tokar i Klaus Kugel?

Tym razem dwa zastępy jazzowych luzaków, reprezentujące dwa frontowe miasta amerykańskiego jazu - Chicago i Nowy Jork - podążają za aylerowskimi wskazówkami i nasycają świąteczne tematy marszowością, hymnicznością, prostotą i surowością free jazzowych improwizacji.

Kolejny "An Ayler Xmas" Marsa Williamsa dowodzi, że muzyk posiadł ezoteryczną wiedzę na temat panowania nad tym fantastycznym pomysłem, niczym człowiek orkiestra przekonuje słuchacza, że formotwórczy talent jednego człowieka, potrafiącego dobrać sobie adekwatnych partnerów potrafi mieć atomową siłę rażenia.

Nagranie to nie ma pretensji do wyważania jakichkolwiek drzwi, do bycia pozycją ponadczasową, jednak dla fanów otwartej formy stanie się płytą ważną. Nikogo nie trzeba przekonywać, że środowisko koncertowe bezsprzecznie służy kreowaniu wolnej, improwizowanej muzyki. Na obu scenach doszło do kontrolowanej erupcji jazzowego wulkanu, poziom ekspresji i konstruktywnego zaangażowania w proces kreacji wbija w podłogę. Kolektywność w budowaniu muzycznej narracji i intensywność artystycznej wypowiedzi budzą podziw i szacunek.
autor: MAd

Editor's info:
Vol 4 is the most expansive version of the project yet! The two groups featured here (taken from Williams' touring in 2019) feature luminaries such as Jim Baker, Chris Corsano, Nels Cline, Hilliard Greene, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Josh Berman, Steve Swell, Kent Kessler and more! This is also the first time to feature a vinyl version!! It has 2 side-long medleys played by each group, Chicago & NYC, and comes on a black and white "AYLER GOATEE" swirl colored vinyl!!

Split release with Williams' own Soul What Records. Yet another yearly installment of "An Ayler Xmas" just in time to cheer us up post election. This is the first time that there will be a vinyl version of Ayler Xmas jams!!

PLEASE NOTE: The vinyl version contains ONLY tracks 3 & 6 which are the same medley but done in entirely different styles by the Chicago and NYC groups respectively.

freejazzblog.org* * * * 1/2
Last year when I reviewed Mars Williams An Ayler Xmas Vol 3, I wrote that I was hoping that this would continue to be an annual event - a new collection of Ayler/Holiday mashups to counteract the deadly ear-poison of 'All I Want for Christmas (is you)'. I also secretly wondered how Williams could keep finding new inspiration with the theme. Now, knowing the answer to both and I'm pleased to report that there is nothing to be worried about.

One thing that keeps this idea interesting is the ever changing set of musicians joining Williams on the stage. Last year there was a collection of tunes recorded in Krakow, featuring a collection of New York and European mmusicians. The year prior it was a selection from a group in the U.S. and a group from Europe featuring musicians from each continent exclusively. This year, we have Chicago vs. New York. Some new faces join the old in Chicago, and features, along with Williams on sax and toy instruments, Josh Berman on cornet, Jim Baker on piano, viola, and Arp synth, Kent Kessler on bass, Brian Sandstrom on bass, guitar, and trumpet, and Steve Hunt on drums. Rounding out the band (even further on some tracks) in Chicago is Peter Maunu on Violin, Katinka Kleijn on cello, and Keefe Jackson on baritone sax. In New York, Williams is joined by Steve Swell on Trombone, Hilliard Greene on bass, Chris Corsano on drums, Nels Cline on guitar, and Fred Lonberg-holm on cello.

Another thing that makes this yearly (fingers crossed) installment exciting is the evolving repertoire. No, I did not go back to see which songs have been on which album and in what order, that's for someone more OCD than me to do, but I have a simple explanation: it just hardly matters. The combinations change, the interpretations range from wild (see 'Did You Hear They Found Light in Darkness Looking for Chestnuts' from Chicago) to sublime (on 'The Hanukah-xmas March of Truth for 12 Days of Jingling Bells With Spirits' from the Chicago band, there is a beautiful solo piano section from Baker which then gets poked at by Berman's cornet) and often in the same track, like the 28 minute rendition of 'The Hanukah-xmas March of Truth for 12 Days of Jingling Bells With Spirits' from NYC, where the regal melody is lightly shadowed by Cline's wavering electric guitar for a little bit before it takes everything quickly Downtown.

Of course my question is what's next? The recordings so far have drawn from touring, live situations where the audience and band have made for ever changing experiences. However, this year because of the pandemic there was no tour (though there was a live streamed concert). One may be tempted to think, following current patterns, Vol 5 could very well be a Mars Williams solo Ayler Xmas release. Who knows!
By Paul Acquaro

muzycy:
DISC 1: CHICAGO (tracks 1-4)
MARS WILLIAMS – SAX, TOY INSTRUMENTS
JOSH BERMAN – CORNET
JIM BAKER – PIANO, VIOLA, ARP SYNTH
KENT KESSLER – BASS
BRIAN SANDSTROM – BASS, GUITAR, TRUMPET
STEVE HUNT – DRUMS

GUESTS:
PETER MAUNU: VIOLIN
KATINKA KLEIJN - CELLO (TRACK 1, 3)
KEEFE JACKSON - BARI SAX (TRACK 4)

Recorded & Mixed by Dave Zuchowski.
Live at Hungry Brain (12/15/19)

DISC 2: NYC (tracks 5-6)
MARS WILLIAMS - SAX, TOY INSTRUMENTS
STEVE SWELL - TROMBONE
HILLIARD GREENE - BASS
CHRIS CORSANO - DRUMS
NELS CLINE - GUITAR
FRED LONBERG-HOLM - CELLO

Recorded & Mixed by Marc Uselli
Live at DiMenna Center (12/21/19)

Disc 2 Dedicated to the Memory of Erik J. Stern.

utwory:
CD1:
1. The Hanukkah-Xmas March Of Truth For 12 Days Of Jingling Bells With Spirits In Chicago 24:45
2. The Heavenly Home Bashing Of The Bells 08:24
3. Noel Omega - Change Has Come For The Three Kings Who Lit The Tiny Candles In Chicago 14:54

CD2:
1. Did You Hear They Found Light In Darkness Looking For Chestnuts? 10:33
2. The Hanukkah-Xmas March Of Truth For 12 Days Of Jingling Bells With Spirits In NYC 27:53
3. Noel Omega - Change Has Come For The Three Kings Who Lit The Tiny Candles In NYC 20:24

more info: www.astralspiritsrecords.com