Despite being a key participant in the "Left Coast" scene of more avant-leaning music from the American west coast—in particular, part of the Cryptogramophone imprint that, while less active than in its "glory days" during the first years of the new millennium—Alex Cline releases so infrequently as a leader that any new music from the percussionist/composer is worthy of attention. That he has flown so far under the radar, in recent years, that his last Cryptogramophone release, 2013's For People In Sorrow, was largely (and unfairly) overlooked. Thankfully, that's not the case with Oceans of Vows, a sumptuous two-disc set that documents a two-hour suite of music—two parts, each consisting of five movements.
Released in semi-obscurity 25 years ago (2012), Angelica was American guitarist Nels Cline’s first date as leader and shows a remarkable maturity. Cline is better known these days as guitarist with Chicago hipsters Wilco, and there are few modern musicians who can run with the jazz hare and hunt with the rock hounds with such ease. This well-deserved reissue is a chance to hear where the young guitarist’s head was at and is notable also for an unusually consonant contribution from saxophonist Tim Berne – now undisputed heavyweight champion of New York’s downtown scene, then barely out of his 30s.
Alex vit à Long Island chez Simon, un homme plus âgé qu'elle. Mais au cours d'un dîner, elle commet l'irréparable. Il l'accompagne à la gare pour qu'elle retourne à New York. La jeune femme décide au dernier moment de rester. Sans ressources, elle erre dans les rues durant une semaine. Ne parvenant pas à oublier Simon, elle débarque à sa fête du Labor Day. …
Rapson began on piano at age five before switching to trombone. He studied at Westmont College, graduating in 1976, then took his MA in composition at California State University. Rapson taught at Westmont from 1980 to 1990, concurrently playing in Los Angeles with Vinny Golia (1979-90). He also worked with Tim Berne (1980, 1986), Walter Thompson (1980), Bobby Bradford (1986-90), and John Carter (1988-90). He has worked extensively as a leader with noted West Coast jazz players.
This CD by the Don Preston Trio features pianist Preston, bassist Joel Hamilton and drummer Alex Cline presenting inventive treatments of music by Frank Zappa, Carla Bley, John Carter, Cole Porter, and Don himself. Transformation presents a survey Preston's multifarious career: his stint as keyboardist with Frank Zappa's Mothers Of Invention, his association with pianist-composer Carla Bley, his synthesizer work for the late distinguished composer-clarinetist John Carter as well as his own reputation as a writer of powerful though twisted music.
“Somehow I discovered I could write this music and play the saxophone. All that stumbling around and stuff, I ended up finally being able to play it a little bit. I ain’t the greatest by any means, not even close—but I think I’ve got depth, a broadness of my musical sensibility, that a lot of soloists don’t have, because they focus on that one thing, soloing. I want to develop the whole backdrop, the scenery. Once I found out that was possible, that I could collaborate with people, I came alive musically.” —Julius Hemphill