Avant Music News

A recent article discusses the Bang on a Can ensemble and gives a nice overview of the history of the members and their other projects.

Ipecac has a string list of releases and are putting out new material at an impressive pace. Artists include The Melvins, Fantomas, Trevor Dunn, Eyvind Kang, Ruins, and more.

As expected the Guelph Jazz Festival lineup is very strong. Say no more, just follow the link…

As always, DMG offers reviews of new releases that they’re carrying:
NEW THINGS from GARY LUCAS, CHRIS SPEED, SHRIMP BOAT, BLUE COLLAR, PAUL MURPHY TRIO, PATRICK BRENNAN, ANDREAS WILLERS, O. BLAAT, AMM, KATHLEEN SUPOVE, 2 from JOHN BUTCHER and 3 BECHEGAS DUOS w/ ALEX SCHLIPPENBACH, DEREK BAILEY and PETER KOWALD!

Count on the Squid for more timely reviews:
The Jeff Kaiser Ockodektet - 13 Themes for a Triskadekaphobic
people band - 1968
Mount Washington - Mount Washington
R. Stevie Moore - Nevertheless Optimistic
Jacqueline Humbert - Chanteuse
psi - Black American Flag
Ernesto Diaz-Infante/Chris Forsyth - as is stated…before known
Chris Forsyth/Chris Heenan - Chris Forsyth/Chris Heenan
Terry Hall & Mushtaq - The Hour […]

The next few Cryptonight shows in Los Angeles feature the best of the west coast avant jazz performers.
July 1 - Michael Vatcher, Vinny Golia, and Steuart Liebig
July 8 - Phillip Greenlief solo & duo w/ g.e. stinson
July 15 - Vinnie Golia Quintet
July 22 - Cosmologic
July 29 - Steuart Liebig
August 5 - Don Preston
August 12 - […]

Another bunch of reviews from One Final Note are available, including:
RECENT CD REVIEWS
25 June 2004
Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet Images + Signs (Okka Disk)
by Jay Collins
22 June 2004
Jazz Composers Alliance Orchestra Celebration Of The Spirit (CIMP)
by Jay Collins
17 June 2004
Spring Heel Jack The Sweetness Of The Water (Thirsty Ear)
by Jay Collins
9 June 2004
John Butcher 13 Friendly […]

CIMP has released five new titles:
CIMP 305 Patrick Brennan: Sonic Openings Under Pressure (Steve Swell, tbn; Hilliard Greene, b; Newman Taylor Baker, d)
The Drum is Honor Enough
* Listening to Patrick Brennan’s music is a bit like looking at a bowl that has been shattered and reassembled but whose fit isn’t […]

A recent article discusses an academic analysis of several pieces of music, focusing on the repetition of certain elements. The basic conclusion is that atonal pieces repeat less and therefore could be harder for the listener to follow. No big surprise to anyone who likes this sort of thing, but its nice to […]

A longish article from the NY Times talks about the somewhat dismal economics of classical recordings, including an example of the things that an orchestra has to do (including pay) to have their performances released.

The Muffins site is featuring updated information on their September release, Double Negative.

Reviews of the new Wilco effort are trickling in, and a consistent theme seems to be “weird”. Could they be on the trail of bands such as Radiohead and Tool, reaching a large audience with non-mainstream music? Having Nels Cline in their touring band certainly can’t hurt…

The Vouncouver Jazz Festival is running now until July 4th and includes Evan Parker, Dave Douglas and many others.

The recent release of a Cecil Taylor / Mat Manieri duet from 1999 is reviewed.

Bob is recording a new hail album with Suzanne Lewis, as well as working on another horror-based solo effort. Go, Bob, go.