Avant Music News

Budget classical CD label Naxos is slowly changing the world of classical music. Their market share is huge, many of their recordings are excellent, and they offer a great deal of diversity. The players and conductors are not stars, but are competent if not outstanding. Naxos credits their success to several […]

A recent article reviews Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, which turns 40 this year.

Where else but Germany could host a festival featuring Kraan, Guru Guru and Birth Control?

Besies the Jazz Fest, Montreal has another festival taking place, this one in June. An article provides and overview, and info on the lineup can be found at the festival site.

Part of New York’s Vision Festival has been reviewed.

This article tries to set the context for understanding a misunderstood composer.

For those of you in Chicago, the Gene Siskel Film Center has upcoming showing of a film on Krautrockers Can. Earlier this month a film on Cecil Taylor was shown.

The FAB Trio is Joe Fonda, Barry Altschul, and Billy Bangs. An article discusses their history and music.

A recent live performance of The Ex is reviewed.

Stella Vander has a new album entitled Le Coeur Allant Vers due out in a couple of weeks.

The Polar Award from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music this year goes to Gyorgy Ligeti and BB King. Ligeti, who is currently ill, will not be able to attend.

Once again the Asko Ensemble is on tour. For June and July, their focus in Messiaen, Vivier and Andriessen.

Morgan Agren’s site has info on their new album, and word on the street is that they are planning a North American tour in September.

The Village Voice positively reviews the latest from John Abercrombie and Louis Sclavis while keeping the ECM jokes to a minimum.

In October, the Sounds Like Now Festival will take place in New York:
Sounds Like Now, celebrating the Interpretations series at 15
6 events • 25 groups • 100 performers
October 14-17, 2004 at La MaMa Etc., 74A East 4th St. NYC
David First and Tom Hamilton, Festival Directors
Featuring:
Muhal Richard Abrams
Robert Ashley
David Behrman
Thomas Buckner
Nic Collins
Mark Dresser
William Duckworth
Douglas Ewart
David […]