In November 2020, Chicago multi-instrumentalist Ben LaMar Gay debuted his long-form composition Certain Reveries at a London Jazz Festival livestream show. The performance was no mere park-and-play: wearing a black hooded shawl that recalled the grim reaper, Gay played electronics, synths, and of course his cornet, and in collaboration with brilliant percussionist Tommaso Moretti, he […]
Tag: Tommaso Moretti
Posted inMusic
Drummer Tommaso Moretti brings a joyful spirit and a taste of Italy to his quartet’s debut album
Italian drummer and composer Tommaso Moretti settled here in 2013 after playing with Chicagoans such as Ernest Dawkins in his homeland, but he didn’t come across my radar until last year, when he appeared on the eponymous debut album of Bottle Tree—a smart, progressive R&B trio with multi-instrumentalist Ben Lamar Gay and singer A.M. Frison. […]
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Bassist Matt Lux on his favorite pianist of his generation
Current musical obsessions of jazz guitarist Tim Stine, bassist Matt Lux, and Reader music critic Peter Margasak
Posted inMusic
International Anthem brings punk idealism to progressive jazz
Chicago label International Anthem puts in the sweat to bring progressive jazz the audience it deserves.
Posted inBlogs
Chicago trio Bottle Tree warp cosmic R&B into a distinctive shape of their own
Chicago trio Bottle Tree is one of many projects on the long and varied resumé of cornetist Ben Lamar Gay.