• Music

    Ernesto Diaz-Infante – Amor Celestial

    April 8, 2024 - By 

    Amor Celestial is the latest album by Bay Area guitar improviser Ernesto Diaz-Infante, release on Rambutan Records out of New York.  The album reminds me of waves gently crashing into the rock of the Pacific Coastline, ebbing and flowing as clouds of feedback surround each bend of the strings.  From the release’s Bandcamp site: “San Francisco-based Ernesto Diaz-Infante brings his complete mastery and open exploration of the electric guitar to Tape Drift. It’s an honor to present this deeply focused and heavy work from someone who has dedicated so many years to fearless sonic experimentation and improvisation. The cover art…

  • Music

    RKS Trio – Live at Bab-Ilo

    April 1, 2024 - By 

    Thanks to the ever-consistent Muteant Records for bringing this album to my attention!  I’m familiar with both Michel Kristof and Makoto Sato’s work, as both as masters in the improv world, but Quentin Rollet is a new name for me.  His sax playing and sound manipulation are expertly underpinned by the aforementioned Kristof and Sato, making this a bouncy and adventurous listen. Quentin Rollet : sopranino and alto saxes, Korg Monotron Delay, iPhone, SmarFaust App Michel Kristof : electric guitard, Sfx, cowbells Makoto Sato : drums

  • Music

    Sarah Belle Reid – MASS (Extended + Remastered)

    March 26, 2024 - By 

    Thanks to the magnificent blog a closer listen, I was introduced to the work of a fellow Los Angelino Sarah Belle Reid.  I was intrigued by postrockcafe’s description of the album, and after hearing it this morning in between teaching duties, I have to say that the description is apt.  Shades of early Industrial music with a more academic bent (don’t let that scare you!), a modern, sharper and cleaner take on experimental music, and bits and bobs of something that could pass for soundtrack music underpinned by a subtle, harrowing trumpet underneath, make this an absolutely worthy listen.

  • Music

    Willebrant & Williamson – Night Daze

    March 17, 2024 - By 

    I was introduced to a project new to me coming from Australia.  From Karl Willebrant’s Bandcamp site: “Night Daze blends immersive textures and emotive expanses that invites the listener to conceive a visual experience through soundscapes and drones utilizing bass, trumpet, field recordings, and improvised performance. The album evokes themes of time and place moving in congruent motion. ‘Night Daze’ Full performance interpretation with special guests Peggy Lee (cello) and Dylan van der Schyff (drums) viewable here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQgYvLem3lY “Each track feels like a seemingly large area in which the sounds of the bass and trumpet echo around luxuriously. I…

  • Music

    Ezra Sturm & Ernesto Diaz-Infante – The Escape

    February 25, 2024 - By 

    It is with great pleasure that I get to introduce you to a young guitarist called Ezra Sturm.  His guitar work has an air of modern primitivism to it, meandering gently with the accompaniment of fellow guitarist (and, coincidentally, his dad and friend of the blog) Ernesto Diaz-Infante.  The apple did not fall far from the tree, and with time, he will be wandering along his own path soon enough.

  • Music

    Samo Salamon, Vasil Hadžimanov & Ra-Kalam Bob Moses – Dances of Freedom

    February 4, 2024 - By 

    From Samo Salamon’s Bandcamp site: “An amazing trio, I love both of these players so much. I have had the privilege to play and tour with Bob in trio with Arild Andersen and he has been one of my heroes for year. Absolute blast on stage, always!!!! I have learned so much from him. Vasil, my brother from the South, has been one of my favorite pianists. We spent a beautiful week together on a workshop in Novo Mesto as mentors and I’m so happy we were able to do this one with Bob. So happy about the album, very…

  • Music - Podcast

    [Podcast] La Montaña Rusa 49.2023. Kurt Rosenwinkel. Borderlands Trio. Tomasz Stańko Quintet. Jovan Milovanović Quartet. Greg Spero.

    December 18, 2023 - By 

    La Montaña Rusa 49.2023. Kurt Rosenwinkel. Borderlands Trio. Tomasz Stańko Quintet. Jovan Milovanović Quartet. Greg Spero. Today there will be no reviews as we are having to prepare for Christmas at the school and time is limited, so I share with you the ever-wonderful La Montaña Rusa podcast and a broadcast of some fine jazz and improvised music.  Enjoy yourselves this evening!

  • Music

    Brion Gysin – Junk

    December 5, 2023 - By 

    Never, ever did I expect this artifact of Beat weirdness, cut-ups and free improv to get reissued, but then again, how many record labels are as brave in their choices as Wewantsounds is? From the label’s Bandcamp site: “Wewantsounds is delighted to reissue Brion Gysin’s cult avant funk album produced by Ramuntcho Matta in the early 80’s. The hugely influential Gysin who, with his friend William Burroughs, was revered by the likes of David Bowie, Brian Jones, Laurie Anderson, Genesis P-Orridge, is accompanied here by Matta – on his return from a two-year spell in New York – and French…