AKANEWS #4 - 2020
All upcoming concerts, new releases, new interviews and stories, videos, awards and top releases of artists collaborating with Akamu
INDEX
1 - What's up
2 - Upcoming releases/productions. And most recent ones
3 - Upcoming concerts/residencies/events
4 - Extra-news
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1 - What's up
We are still under risk. Pandemic and protests, but also earthquakes, climate changes or whatever. How do musicians and composers respond to a chaotic moment? An interesting collection of music performances and actions by Alex Ross - The New Yorker. Between them also Roscoe Mitchell and Tomeka Reid's ones.
Another artist in our roster express her thoughts: a conversation with Elaine Michener during the Holland Festival, the International Performing Art festival held few weeks ago.
2020 is Anthony Braxton's 75th birthday year. Circumstances have postponed many of the planned events, but circumstances – including delays – worked in such a way so that Anthony's next boxset Duo (Improv) 2017 has been released right on his birthday June 4th. The limited edition 8-CD boxset and download album is now available for pre-order from New Braxton House Records. In Duo (Improv) 2017, Anthony is joined by Eugene Chadbourne for eight sessions, their distinctive improvisational voices and mastery of instruments on fine display. Chadbourne writes, "... we enjoyed each other's playing immensely, memories lingering of not only the mad-cap combinations and pace but of moments that seemed like jazz standards, except we were making it up as we went along."
Here an introspective interview with Matthew Shipp: you could discover a link between him and the Jackson 5. Check it out.
Last time we wrote about the new release by James Brandon Lewis and Chad Taylor "Live in Willisau". Here a review. And here all the other reviews on it.
Actually James, for Downbeat critics poll 2020, is the rising star for tenor saxophone. Congrats James!
Moreover, we don't forget to mention Anna Webber (rising star for flute). She has been very active in the recent past period: she was involved in an online performance at the Ottawa Jazz Festival along with Kris Davis and Lina Allemano, then she gave a talk (along with her big band co-leader Angela Morris) at the Vancouver Jazz Festival. Here's an improvisation with Eric Wubbels that was commissioned by Duck Creek Arts in Long Island.
Going back to Down Beat Critic Poll, we are also very proud to remember here also the women who won the main categories and we collaborate with: Nicole Mitchell and Tomeka Reid (respectively flute and cello of Art Ensemble of Chicago) and Mary Halvorson (Michael Formanek's Very Practical Trio)
Jazz Times and All About Jazz reviewed Cell Walk, the most recent release by Wayne Horvitz and Sara Shoenbeck
A lot of reviews around here. These are Liberty Ellman collected on his previous impressive album Last Desert
On Palazzo delle Esposizioni's website, you find the notes of contemporary music about Misterious Adventure by John Cage reinterpreted by Fabrizio Ottaviucci. Is it possible that a little (or medium) screw transform a piano in a drum? Yes, it is.
2 - Upcoming releases/productions. And the most recent ones
Anna Webber will release on next July 31st "Rectangles" a live album (digital only) on Out of Your Heads Records. A portion of all proceeds go to the Bronx Defenders Client Emergency Fund
Thumbscrew (Thomas Fujiara - Mary Halvorson - Michael Formanek) "The Anthony Braxton Project" will be released on July 24th - Cuneiform Records
Anthony Braxton and Jaqueline Kerrod - Duo (Bologna) 2018
Elaine Mitchener's performing with her Trio The Rolling Calf on BBC and at Tusk Festival 2019
Liberty Ellman released on June 19th a Trio EP with Damion Reid on drums and Stephan Crump on bass: ladies and gentlemen Water Walkers. Featuring long time collaborators, Stephan Crump and Damion Reid, Water Walkers finds Liberty recording in the scarcest setting yet. Typically, found performing in the quintet of Zooid or larger ensembles such as his own sextet, the trio setting opens space for Liberty in ways not previously recorded. His guitar is at the forefront and his musical lines flow freely as the trio converses over four tracks. Containing two new compositions, a reworking of Aestivation, from Ophiuchus Butterfly, and a reinterpretation of the classic Harry Warren & Mack Gordon composition I Wish I Knew, Water Walkers plays like a small glimpse into the guitarists' more self reflective moments
"Cotton Tail" Duke Ellingthon and "Come Sunday"- Brooklyn College Global Jazz Big Band directed (remote) by D.D. Jackson
3 - Upcoming concerts/residencies/events
Dudù Kouate will play at Festival Ethno 2020 at Palazzo Reale in Milan on next 23rd July 2020
O-Janà at Fano Jazz on 28th July 2020
Croatia Drum Camp with Famoudou Don Moye ended last night
Next month, Famoudou Don Moye Quintet will play August 25th in Cagliari - Sardegna (Italy) and on August 27th in Roccella Jonica - Calabria (Italy)
Two upcoming events on Braxton music:
- On July 24, 2020 at 00:05 Uhr (German time), 22:05 GMT, 6:05PM EST Radio broadcast of the Berlin Sonic Genome
- On July 27, 2020 at 5:30PM - 6:30PM EST (21:30 - 22:30 GMT) ONLINE (register here): Braxton75: The Music of Anthony Braxton. The International Contemporary Ensemble, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and Tri-Centric will jointly present a panel on the music of Anthony Braxton
4 - Extra-news
Time to say goodbye. But before just a little message #inpursuitofthewe from Elaine Mitchener for you.
Psss, Elaine has been selected for the British Art Show 9
Ciao
