THE RAG

ISSUE 145 WINTER/SPRING 2017 UK £3.25

INTAKT AT THE VORTEX

Photo by Stefan Postius THE LAST OF THE GUNSLINGERS? INTAKT AT THE VORTEX THE LAST OF THE GUNSLINGERS? INTAKT AT THE VORTEX RON SIMPSON questions whether the days of the itinerant jazz soloist are in fact over. From April 16 to 27 ’s Now living in Switzerland, his list Niggli and Bronnimann) is Vortex Club hosts a remarkable of albums for Intakt includes rejected by Patrik who reckons Ingrid In the Christmas issue of the Jazz Brownfield, values his association Let’s look at a couple of Not that Alan is an uncritical fan festival dedicated to the music of several with the London Jazz that about a third of Intakt’s Laubrock Centre UK Newsletter Simon with saxist Liam Byrne so much examples. Last year’s Birmingham of the jam session situation: Zurich’s Intakt Records. Composers’ Orchestra. artists are Swiss – and he is Spillett headed his column: Dead that they co-lead two groups in and Solihull Jazz Festival had, on Concerts each evening consist of particularly proud to have some Gunslingers: Is it time for jazz to let different styles, each, I think, with my reckoning, Art Themen, Bruce ‘Jam sessions can be great or at least double bills, some During the festival major talents from the United go? As Jazz Rag readers know, a regular personnel. Saxophonist Adams, Dave Gelly, Digby dreadful. Supervised ones are presenting as many of four celebrates his 70th birthday and States on the label, David Murray, Simon is an astute, balanced and Alexander Bone, who hoovered Fairweather, Jerry Senfluk, Julian better: shorter solos, improvised different groups or performers. the first evening is devoted to now domiciled in , Reggie prodigiously knowledgeable up most of the 2016 awards for Marc Stringle and Robert Fowler, backings and riffs make it more As Patrik Landolt of Intakt celebrating that, with Guy Workman and . appearing in four different commentator on jazz as well as young jazz musicians, operates in addition to Messrs. Spillett and interesting for the listener – the explains, the label had similar settings. With violinist Maya being one of our top with another young star, Rory Barnes, playing as soloists with person we’re playing for! The exposure in New York four years These Americans are not on the ago when, at ’s Homburger he re-visits his saxophonists, so anything he Ingham, in a regular group, Jam rhythm section. Now there were more contrast between the bill for The Vortex, but a writes has to be taken seriously, two things operating in their invitation, Intakt took over the ancient music heritage, exploring saxophonist very familiar to Experiment, though of course the soloists the better. I remember but I was not the only one to need for regular work is not so favour. The rhythm sections were programming for two weeks at the ninth century hymn Veni London audiences, now hitting sitting in with Willie Garnett and wonder whether this time he pressing while they are at college. excellent, not only ‘national’ The Stone, described as ‘a not for Creator Spiritus and Heinrich Ignaz the headlines in New York, makes Art Themen and we got some took his argument to some very figures such as Brian Dee, Dave profit performance space Franz Biber’s rosary sonatas as two appearances on April 22 and lovely three-part harmony things debatable conclusions. To be fair, Simon’s article moves towards Newton, Len Skeat and Simon dedicated to the experimental well as contemporary music. The 23. Ingrid Laubrock was born in going – a real joy to be part of it the very title invites debate! controversy when he describes Thorpe, but locally based and avant garde.’ Howard Riley Trio is described as Germany and launched her his volte-face away from musicians such as Keith Bill, John and the audience loved it!’ the group that took the piano career in London, but has been An initial reaction to Intakt’s trio into the realm of free Simon begins, ‘I think it was the favouring the gunslinging Patrick and Malcolm Garrett. And based in New York for nearly a Moholo is only As Alan points out, that worked catalogue might also use words exploration, then it’s back to duo late Ian Carr who coined the approach to favouring playing sometimes the rhythm section decade. She plays at the festival one of a dozen or so drummers because all of them are unselfish like ‘experimental’ and ‘avant format, with legendary saxist term “gunslinger” to describe the only with trusted fellow- would bed in over maybe four with the trio (Liam Noble and at the festival. Asked what travelling jazz soloist, the lone players – and that really is the garde’, but Patrik stresses the , before the final trio musicians in set situations. Do gigs with the same soloist. Tom Rainey) who worked with features will surprise London character who pitches up in key to his response to Simon’s importance of tradition in the set unites Guy and drummer you have to favour one or the her on the award-winning album, audiences, Patrik cites the Swiss town to essay a night of well- Or, to take a quite different argument. His summary of the music: Lucas Niggli from the Riley Trio other? Do we want to return to Sleepthief , and then in a duo with drumming tradition. Perhaps the tried and tested standards with jazz wars as futile as the old mod example, Tuesday Jazz and Swing with saxist Jurg Wickihalder. situation of guest Japanese pianist Aki Takase. most remarkable example of this the local rhythm section. Those v. trad rubbish? at Wilmslow Conservative Club ‘The scope of our music is great, soloist/supporting rhythm section is two concerts by who made this modus operandi may occasionally offer a set band based on the jazz tradition. All The following evening Niggli is in makes it sound a much more One of the features of the festival where other instruments are work for them include such Simon is to be praised for such as the Brownfield-Byrne this comes from America, in the action again, with saxist/bass collaborative and equal process. is the ingenious and creative omitted and the drums have to notables as (in the USA) Zoot provoking discussion, but I feel he Hot Six, but goes along quite meeting of African Americans and clarinettist Jan Galega For a start he’s none too keen programming that gives audiences explore the whole sound palette. Sims and Sonny Stitt and (over slants the evidence. He refers to nicely on a diet of regular trusted white Americans. Then in the Bronnimann and Aly Keita. As on the word ‘gunslinger’ which the chance to hear the same Pierre Favre Drumsights (with here) the late, much-missed Dick the old ‘bad amplification/pub local piano trios and visiting 1970s and 1980s different types Patrik explains, Aly Keita plays the implies, in his words, ‘a bit of a musicians in different settings: Aki fellow drummers Valeria Zangger, Morrissey, each one a performer jazz/door money/bands-made-up- soloists on their own or in pairs, of music had an influence, balafon, a wooden xylophone blood-letting’. He admits that Takase goes on to play in a duo Markus Lauterburg and Chris who could make profound, high- of-whoever-is-available a fair few of them local, but many including European classical from West Africa which sounds there are some soloists with another saxophonist, Rudi Jaeger) is followed by a solo set standard music in spite of traditions’. This seems to imply with a national reputation – Amy music. Jazz is an open music and not unlike the marimba. Coming (unnamed) for whom ‘bringing Mahall; Evan Parker appears in whatever else was going on that local rhythm sections are Roberts, Gilad Atzmon, John everyone fights for different from a family of balafon players in from Favre. out the limitations of the trio various different groups; and then around them. Players like that are bad rhythm sections. While I am Hallam, Roy Williams, Alan Barnes music.’ Cote d’Ivoire, he has developed there is Louis Moholo Moholo! Other big names appearing on an genuine rarities, but gigs of this sure that Simon, as all itinerant of course – and even the odd behind them is part of the show. the balafon, with new scales and One of his appearances is with excitingly complex and varied type still exist, providing work for soloists, has had evenings where visitor from the land of the If you want to play an obscure Intakt Records was founded by half notes, to give it the flexibility pianist , an event programme include, among many current UK soloists including the the disasters start early and gunslinger, with Greg Abate ballad it’s more productive to Patrik Landolt in 1984 and is to adjust to Western music, that Patrik sees as of significance ubiquitous Alan Barnes (who never stop, I would dispute any something of a regular. provide a part rather than stand described on its website as a blending traditional African others, pianist Alexander von morally and politically as well as always makes such performances suggestion that the majority of there expressing incredulity that small independent label, but has repertoire with jazz and Schlippenbach who plays a solo musically. In the 1986 Zurich Jazz a success) and yours truly (who supporting musicians are other It seems to me that, like Mark the trio has never heard of it.’ issued more than 250 albums. improvisation. Though both Niggli concert of ’s Festival South African music was doesn’t).’ than capable – or better than Twain’s death, the demise of the Among the first artists to record and Bronnimann were born in music, singer , a main strand of the programme. that! ‘gunslinger’ has been This is how Alan sees working for the label was British bassist Cameroon, growing up with the saxophonist , the The concert by Schweizer and Nothing to argue with there, exaggerated. However, for more with local musicians of different Barry Guy, with a 1986 release of rhythms of West Africa, they are piano/violin duo of Sylvie Moholo became a protest against except for Simon’s too modest Then Simon cites a rather expert testimony than mine, I styles and talents: compositions by him and now Swiss citizens. Courvoisier and Mark Feldman assessment of his own wonderful thing: Nigel Price is turned to Alan Barnes, cited by Anthony Braxton. Barry’s musical apartheid and also the Zurich and the groups Noisy Minority bankers who colluded it with it. performances. And certainly he is engaged on an ambitious 56-date Simon as one of the last of the ‘There are great players all over background includes working Any suggestion that Intakt’s (led by Omri Ziegele and with The Intakt album, Free Mandela , correct to ask where the new tour with his excellent trio. gunslingers, but – it should be the UK and to assume musical with early music groups such as artists are mostly Swiss, either by trumpeter Percy Pursglove) and documents this event. Schweizer ‘gunslingers’ are. His picture of a Impressive as this is – and it is remembered – a man who has superiority can be dangerous! The Academy of Ancient Music. birth or relocation (like Guy, Christoph Irniger’s Pilgrim. and Moholo also team up with jazz scene where the younger amazingly impressive – I can’t see also put together many tours, I’ve guested with traditional Zurich-based saxophonist Omri In these days when the record jazz players all earn their livings it as a blueprint for all bands, though not of 56 dates, with bands that had lots of tunes I Barry Guy Ziegele under the name of industry is so hard-pressed, it’s through teaching posts so that especially those with more than hand-picked groups playing his didn’t know and played with they have no financial imperative Where’s Africa. Singer Sarah good to find a label as buoyant as three members. No matter how arrangements/compositions. To young piano players that know in their playing and can play jazz hard they work on the bookings, Alan it is not an either/or Buechi is another to be Intakt. Releases over the past few more Chick Corea and Wayne ‘largely with those they choose 56-date tours are not an option situation: presented in different settings. months have included two Shorter than I do or could leave to work with’ is over-generalised, for most bands unless you count Accompanied by an oddly albums by Ingrid Laubrock, with me standing in 7/4. I think the but not totally inaccurate. For as a tour all the gigs for one year ‘Presenting your own music conventional line-up of different groups, a collaboration instance, let’s take three young – or two! played by your favourite skill in all this is finding common piano/bass/drums, Sarah presents between Aki Takase and David musicians who have made an musicians is the best feeling in ground and playing differently in music from her Intakt CD, Murray and the Schlippenbach impact recently. Trumpeter Laura However, it’s Simon’s conclusion the world, but there is also every situation without losing Shadow Garden , but has also been Trio’s Warsaw Concert featuring Jurd has tended to lead named that I would take most issue nothing like jumping into the your identity.’ paired with fellow-singer Lauren Evan Parker and drummer Paul groups of known associates, with: ‘dead is the day of the unknown with players you hardly Kinsella and cello and bass Lovens (who play The Vortex on currently Dinosaur, which, as I gunslinger’. Times are changing know and having to come up And that seems fair enough. If the accompaniment. Buechi and April 21). write, has an 18-date tour and he is rightly drawing with something. I hope guest gunslinger’s dead, let’s hope Kinsella have both studied South Photo by planned for January-March. attention to those changes, but soloing and jams will always be there’s plenty of life in the Indian music in Bangalore while www.vortexjazz.co.uk Francesca Pfeffer Another trumpeter, Jamie dead? part of the scene.’ collaborative soloist! sharing links with Dublin. www.intaktrec.ch 12 THE JAZZ RAG THE JAZZ RAG 13