The Squid's Ear Magazine


Toyozumi / Countryman / Tan: Chasing the Sun (ChapChap Records)

Two live sets at Tago Jazz Cafe in the Philippines in 2018 from the trio of master percussionist Sabu Toyozumi on drums, American ex-pat Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, and Simon Tan on acoustic bass, this their 3rd album of solid free improvisation of extended and masterful discourse, unusual percussive devices, and powerful rhythmic foundation.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Sabu Toyozumi-drums

Rick Countryman-alto saxophone

Simon Tan-acoustic bass


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UPC: 4534614501043

Label: ChapChap Records
Catalog ID: CPCD-018
Squidco Product Code: 29919

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: Japan
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels
Recorded at Tago Jazz Cafe, in the Philippines, on December 12th 2018, by Alvin Cornista.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Capturing the trio of Sabu Toyozumi, Simon Tan, and Rick Countryman live in the Philippines in December 2018. Tracks 2 - 5 comprised the vinyl edition, CPLP-001, released in 2019. 2 additional tracks are live duo recordings."-ChapChap Records



"The 3rd trio release from Takeo Suetomi and ChapChap Records (Japan) presenting music from 2 live sets performed 12/12/2018, including the full version of "Chasing the Sun." Sabu proclaimed it a "great performance" and a "great evening."

Simon Tan, arguably Philippines most accomplished improvisational bassist, connected with Rick Countryman in 2011; and Julien Palomo introduced Rick to Sabu Toyozumi to create the collaborations that occur in Manila. "Impermanence" features Sabu on erhu, and drums on "No Social Relevance." Rick Countryman performs on alto sax and Simon Tan on acoustic bass, on all selections.

Through his initial association, and now deep friendship with Sabu, Rick was introduced to the artistry of two Japanese legendary saxophonists, Mototeru Takagi and Kaoru Abe. Their music and approach has augmented his studies of 60s free improvisational music, which is heavily influenced by Coltrane, Dolphy, and later Sonny Simmons."-from the liner notes



"When I first heard this record, I heard that the souls of the three performers echoed in one direction.

It was heading for love. You are Japanese, American and Filipino. The recording place was selected as Manila, the capital of the Philippines, where Japanese and US forces involuntarily squeezed the local people, washed away blood and killed them.

Of course, it goes without saying that Japanese soldiers and US soldiers were hated and killed by worthless volunteers.

However, after the 74 years after the war, the three of you played music together with members of the same country as the war. I also thought that this was a music challenge to past wars.

As a result, you made me listen to love, peace and human bonds. Your music has won the war of the past! This is spiritual free jazz! !

It's a record of the historical bond."-Yusuke Akaiwa


Artist Biographies

"Yoshisaburo "Sabu" Toyozumi (born Tsurumi, Yokohama, 1943) is one of the small group of musical pioneers who comprised the first generation playing free improvisation music in Japan. As an improvising drummer he played and recorded with many of the key figures in Japanese free music including the two principal figures in the first generation, Masayuki Takayanagi and Kaoru Abe from the late 1960s onwards. He is one of a very few of this circle who are still alive and engaged in playing this music today.

Toyozumi features on numerous commercially available recordings with many of the most notable Japanese and international improvising musicians including Derek Bailey, Mototeru Takagi, Misha Mengelberg, Peter Brötzmann, Keiji Haino, Otomo Yoshihide, Tom Cora and Fred Van Hove.

In 1971 he became the only non-American member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians(AACM)). He dedicated his first record as a leader, Sabu - Message to Chicago, to compositions by AACM members, and in 1992 toured and recorded with AACM trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith.

Toyozumi has been instrumental in bringing many European and American improvisers to Japan including Derek Bailey, Misha Mengelberg and Sunny Murray.

In 2005 British improvising guitarist and promoter John Russell arranged a two-day event dedicated to Toyozumi in which the drummer performed in different groupings with 14 musicians from the London improvised music scene including, most notably, Evan Parker, Lol Coxhill, Phil Minton, John Edwards and Steve Beresford. The Wire described his playing at this time as follows: "He's busy, but there's always space between his notes, and he avoids the flashy technical solution to musical problems. His playing is crisp and dramatic, with a very occasional use of repetition to spark a climax. If it's possible for a drum kit to ask awkward questions, Toyozumi seems to be doing it".

In an interview with Cadence Magazine in 1988 Toyozumi makes clear the importance of his relationship with nature as an influence on his playing and Clive Bell writing in The Wire in 2005 notes "his devotion to the way of Watazumido, the late shakuhachi player and Zen master, whose performances mixed martial arts and music in a bizarre cocktail of discipline and craziness".

In 2009 he returned to London to feature as one of the players in Russell's improvisation festival Fete Quaqua which was recorded for broadcast by BBC Radio 3. He continues to tour widely and in the past year or so has performed in Belgium and France, Chile, Taiwan, England, Philippines and Greece. He also performs from time to time with the legendary Japanese noise group Hijokaidan. Currently he can be found performing on the erhu - a two-stringed Chinese violin - as often as playing the drums."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabu_Toyozumi)
12/3/2024

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

"Rick Countryman (January 31, 1957) is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist.

After years attracting little attention as a baritone saxophone player, including an extended sabbatical, Rick made a late-life change to alto sax, at the urging of bassist, Simon Tan. His first recorded session with Simon and Christian Bucher, avant garde drummer from Switzerland, attracted the attention of French label "Improvising Beings" and was released as "Acceptance - Resistance". The recordings received many positive reviews, both in the United States and Europe.

Rick currently now has 9 releases on 4 labels across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including multiple CDs with Japanese improvisational drummer, Sabu Toyozumi, who has made several trips to Manila to perform and record. The music continues to receive positive reviews and airplay. Two recordings were listed in "Gold Dolphy 2018".

Since 2011, Rick has been an active member of the Manila jazz scene. He leads and performs in ensembles on baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, alto flute and bass flute; performing original compositions, as well as free jazz/improvisation, in his own jazz quartets and trios. His style is heavily influenced by Eric Dolphy, Sonny Simmons and the 60s Free Jazz movement. He was a student of Bert Wilson, and considers Michael Bisio and Rick Mandyck early mentors."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Countryman)
12/3/2024

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

"Simon Leonardo P. Tan (born August 13, 1970) is a Filipino bassist. Beginning classical guitar lessons at age 13 at the Yamaha School of Music stimulated his later exposure to electric guitar and, inevitably, his interest in the electric bass. He studied the contrabass at the University of the Philippines College of Music from 1988 until 1992, then embarked on a professional musical career. His ability as a multi-genre bass player readily caught attention, notably in the pioneering Manila-based blues band, Lampano Alley, led by the Filipino blues singer and recording artist, Binky Lampano. This was followed by his tenure as bassist and composer with the award-winning Philippine jazz group, WDOUJI.

Simon Tan's influences range from rock to classical, blues and jazz. His influences as a bass instrumentalist include Roscoe Beck, Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Charlie Haden, James Jamerson, Marcus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, and John Pattitucci. Notable (Filipino) musical (non-bass) influences include vocalist Binky Lampano and saxophonist Tots Tolentino."

-WikiVisually (http://wikivisually.com/wiki/Simon_Tan)
12/3/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Outside The Context 5:45

2. Chasing The Sun 15:07

3. Impermanence - Beginning 4:12

4. Impermanence - Conclusion 3:53

5. No Social Relevance 15:59

6. Not My Enemy 7:46

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
Percussion & Drums
Asian Improvisation & Jazz
Trio Recordings
Duo Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
ChapChap Records.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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