The Squid's Ear Magazine


O'Leary / Wollesen / Saft: The Synth Show (Leo Records)

Mark O'Leary's 9th release on Leo Records is a trio with drummer Kenny Wollesen and Zorn compatriot Jamie Saft, synthetic jazz in an ECM mold with rich, slowly unfolding soundscapes.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Mark O'Leary-guitar, E-Bow, soundscapes

Kenny Wollesen-drums, percussion

Jamie Saft-synt


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UPC: 5024792052127

Label: Leo Records
Catalog ID: LEOR521.2
Squidco Product Code: 12036

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2008
Country: UK
Packaging: Jewel Tray
Recorded April 2005 at Frank Booth Studio, Brooklyn, NY by Jamie Saft.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Irish guitarist Mark O'Leary has built a nice relationship with Leo Records over the last few years, having recorded for the label with Mat Maneri, Matthew Shipp, Eyvind Kang, Uri Caine, Steve Swallow and others. O'Leary seems to favor the trio setting and enjoys throwing himself into new contexts. His ninth Leo release, The Synth Show, with Kenny Wollesen on percussion and Jamie Saft on synthesizer, may be his most surprising outing yet.

Saft and Wollesen are certainly knowledgeable about jazz, but tend to step further from the tradition than many of O'Leary's past associates. As such, The Synth Show is always in a slow and easy flux. The title doesn't put forth a lead player, but it does suggest a lead instrument and Saft's axes (analog synthesizers seem to be used through much or all of the record) very much set the tone for the session.

At times the trio doesn't seem to be playing together at all: jazz licks and electronic gurgles swirl over slow marches and washes. Then two of the three will seem to lock in, creating an inverted pyramid with the 'soloist' in the rear. But they do this with an easiness; they're not wandering looking for each other but wandering together, like a search party dividing up patches of ground together. It's spacey in a mellow Krautrock way, or jazzy in a trippy fusion way. Either way, it's an easy but unusual listen. [...]"-Kurt Gottschalk, All About Jazz


Get additional information at All About Jazz

Artist Biographies

"Kenny Wollesen (born 1966) is an American drummer and percussionist.

Wollesen lives in New York City. He has recorded and toured with Tom Waits, Sean Lennon, Ron Sexsmith, Bill Frisell, Norah Jones, John Lurie, Myra Melford, Steven Bernstein, and John Zorn. He is a founding member of the New Klezmer Trio and a member of the Sex Mob and Himalayas groups. He also performs on the soundtrack to the popular children's show The Backyardigans.

Kenny grew up in Capitola, CA, studying at Aptos HS and spent many teenage years jamming with Donny McCaslin. He spent quality classroom time with flugelhornist and arranger Ray Brown at Cabrillo College. Kenny also arranges and studied vibraphone at Cabrillo."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenny_Wollesen)
3/27/2024

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

"Jamie Saft (piano, organs, analog synthesis, bass and guitar, steel guitars) is a native of Queens, New York. Since returning to New York in 1993, Saft's stylistic versatility, multi-instrumentalist capabilities, and production skills have been featured with the Beastie Boys, Bad Brains, the B-52's, Laurie Anderson, Bobby Previte, John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Jerry Granelli, Holly Palmer, Marc Ribot's Los Cubanos Postisos, Elysian Fields, Black Beatle, Antony and the Johnsons, Chocolate Genius, JoJo Mayer's Nerve, E-Z Pour Spout, Cuong Vu, Chris Speed Trio Iffy, Jane Ira Bloom, and the Groove Collective.

Saft is a mainstay of the downtown scene and a member of bands such as The Beta Popes, Whoopie Pie, Swami LatePlate, The Shakers and Bakers, Kalashnikov, Pramrod Sexena, and John Zorn's Electric Masada.

Saft was the pianist for the New York and Paris premiers of John Adams' opera "I Was Looking at the Ceiling and then I Saw the Sky" at Lincoln Center and MC93 Bobingy.

Saft has recently composed a number of original film scores and music fortelevision. Recent films scored include the Oscar nominated film"Murderball", Sundance Grand Jury Prize winner "God Grew Tired Of Us",and currently airing HBO documentary "Dear Talula". Saft has alsocontributed score music for Nickelodeon, MTV, and A&E.."

-Jamie Saft Website (http://www.jamiesaft.com/html/bio.html)
3/27/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Eve 7:22

2. Persona 2:13

3. Into The Abyss 5:51

4. Tuzla 3:24

5. Sky Kink 10:02

6. Texas 5:12

7. Elysian Plains 4:02

8. Critical Mass 2:28

9. Oxygen 7:35

10. For Ingmar Bergman 5:11

11. Dr. Who's Theme, Playing The Himalayas 3:49

Related Categories of Interest:

Leo Records

Improvised Music
Jazz
Piano & Keyboards
NY Downtown & Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
Leo Records.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Other Recommended Releases:
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