Cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm lived in Chicago for 22 years. During that time, he was ubiquitous on the city’s improvisational music scene, playing in bands and ad hoc groupings with so many essential players that any list that could fit in this preview would be ridiculously incomplete. He was also a tireless touring musician who represented […]
Tag: Paal Nilssen-Love
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Catalytic Sound launches a streaming service to support improvising musicians
Catalytic Sound launches a streaming service to support improvising musicians, rapper-producer Rashid Hadee collaborates with the Primeridian, and more
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This Friday’s ‘Bandcamp day’ benefits more than the artists
Many musicians and labels will donate the day’s Bandcamp money to support the fight for Black lives.
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Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis releases a second record with his all-star quintet
When you want to put together an improvising ensemble whose interactions will be unpredictable as well as satisfying, it helps to recruit someone who has your back and someone else who isn’t afraid to push the music somewhere you didn’t think it would go. For one night in December 2018, Chicago alto, tenor, and baritone […]
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Mars Williams brings his Albert Ayler Xmas across Europe and back home to Chicago
This year’s free-jazz holiday tour includes two shows at the Hungry Brain with his band Witches & Devils and special guests.
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Kriegmeister Hatestorm of Neckbeard Deathcamp on heavy music as protest
Current musical obsessions of Neckbeard Deathcamp front man Kriegmeister Hatestorm, Haggathorn guitarist Nathan Scripter, and Reader music editor Philip Montoro
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Paal Nilssen-Love’s Large Unit explores varied compositional gambits through large-scale improvisation
It’s no small feat that Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love has maintained his sprawling, heavily improvised big band—the dubiously named Large Unit—for half a decade in an era where economic realities are at odds with keeping an actively recording and touring group of international players together. But he’s done just that with a largely unchanging cast […]
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Chicago reedist Ken Vandermark, Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love, and a member of the Ex make their Chicago debut as Hassles
It’s never been a secret that Chicago free-jazz reedist Ken Vandermark is inspired by punk rock; it’s obvious in the the raw directness of his performance and the pile-driver energy of his playing. For years he’s worked with inventive self-taught guitarists Terrie Hessels and Andy Moor of Amsterdam postpunk juggernaut the Ex—a group that came […]
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Knockout trumpeter Thomas Johansson comes to town with one of the best working groups in jazz
Norway’s Thomas Johansson, who just released his first album as a leader, plays Sunday at the Hungry Brain with the quartet Cortex.
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Cortex, Norway’s great new jazz group, returns to Chicago
The quartet plays Constellation on Wednesday.
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Norwegian piano trio Moskus hits its stride
The group finds an original sound on its second album Mestertyven.
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Thurston Moore hooks up with Scandinavian free jazz juggernaut the Thing
And together they create visceral, cut-punching improvisations.
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Octogenarian cornetist Bobby Bradford is still blowing cool
The veteran LA jazzman sounds great on a new record with Norwegian reedist Frode Gjerstad.
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Beck’s half-awake Morning Phase and 15 more record reviews
Ten Reader writers review 16 records, including Angel Olsen’s otherworldly folk, and more.
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Mats Gustafsson, now and then
Fiery sounds from the Swedish reedist dating back to 2000, with an accent on his deep Chicago connections