The Squid's Ear Magazine


Dessel, Erez: PRO FAKE NO REJECT (Corbett vs. Dempsey)

A remarkable solo statement from Chicago pianist Erez Dessel (b.1998), whose explosive energy, intuitive form, and darkly Romantic lyricism channel influences from Cecil Taylor, Don Pullen, or even shades of Mussorgsky, while embracing playful contrarianism, captured in ten concise improvisations and presented with notes by pianist Sharon Udoh.
 

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UPC: 0759624575752

Label: Corbett vs. Dempsey
Catalog ID: CvsDCD119
Squidco Product Code: 36630

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded at Pro Musica, on January 15th, 2024, by Ken Christianson.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"One of the most astonishing young musicians to emerge in contemporary improvised music, Erez Dessel (b. 1998) is helping to revitalize the practice. His bracing approach to the keyboard and deeply intuitive sense of form can be explosive, uncorked energy summoning references to Cecil Taylor and the Don Pullen/Milford Graves duets, and an almost Russian Romantic darkness - imagine an improvised Mussorgsky - offset by keen emotional intelligence, with joyful melodicism and an airborne quality. And nestled within Dessel's playing there's a perverse streak, a contrarianism that might call to mind Misha Mengelberg or Jim Baker. An active participant in Chicago's current creative music scene, Dessel is a member of Ken Vandermark's Edition Redux and the quartet Ra Bishop; he is an Arts Club of Chicago fellow for 2025.

With ten concise tracks under five minutes each, PRO FAKE NO REJECT was recorded by genius engineer Ken Christianson in his home base at Pro Musica, Chicago. The CD contains liner notes by fellow pianist Sharon Udoh with artwork by Ahmad Haynes."-Corbett Vs Dempsey


Artist Biographies

"Erez Dessel (USA 1998) is an improvising pianist and composer living and working in Chicago, Illinois. He holds a BM in jazz piano from the New England Conservatory of Music. Dessel's work explores the piano as a vehicle for human connection. A primary part of his practice is the history of the instrument as a tool for storytelling and world-building. His current group activity includes the bands Edition Redux, Look Both Days, Ra Bishop, and Banana Acid; as well as frequent work as a solo performer. Dessel created and curates the Night School series, which presents video artists and improvising musicians in a spontaneous performance context. Dessel has toured nationally and internationally, including performances in Europe and Korea and festival appearances at Edgefest, the Catalytic Sound festival, the Madrid jazz festival, and the Wels Music Unlimited festival. His concerts and recordings have received critical acclaim, with releases on Endectomorph Music, Ornette Coleman Fiend Club, Audiographic Records, and Amalgam Music, and in 2025, he was selected as an Arts Club of Chicago fellow. He has worked continuously both as a performer and organizer in Chicago, recording in an array of contexts with many internationally renowned musicians (including Ken Vandermark, Tim Daisy, Kim Alpert, and Ben Hall)."

-Erez Dessel Website (https://erezdessel.com/About)
8/25/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. H 3:47

2. M 4:02

3. E 5:00

4. K 3:18

5. L 2:52

6. A 3:27

7. T 3:07

8. S 3:57

9. J 4:44

10. F 4:59

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Chicago Jazz & Improvisation
Piano & Keyboards
Solo Artist Recordings
New in Improvised Music
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