The Squid's Ear Magazine


KVL (Kirchner / Van Duerm / Lux / Branch): Volume 1 [VINYL] (Astral Spirits)

The first of many projected volumes from the Chicago trio of Quin Kirchner on drums, percussion, sampler & electronics, Daniel Van Duerm on electric piano, organ, mellotron & electronics, and Matthew Lux on bass & electronics, with guest Jaimie Branch on trumpet, presenting three extended improvisations that maintain peaceful contemplation in captivating grooves.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Quin Kirchner-drums, percussion, sampler, electronics

Daniel Van Duerm-electric piano, organ, mellotron, electronics

Matthew Lux-bass, electronics

Jaimie Branch-trumpet


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Label: Astral Spirits
Catalog ID: AS119
Squidco Product Code: 28254

Format: LP
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: USA
Packaging: LP
Recorded at Shirk Studios in Chicago, Illinois, by Nick Broste.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"KVL sits nicely in the same headspace as recent modern improv that eschews a more traditional "jazz" label. Think Matthew Lux's Contra/Fact, Jaimie Branch's Fly or Die, Shabaka Hutching's Sons of Kemet or The Comet Is Coming, Ben Lamar Gaye, Rob Mazurek and others. Of course, many folks will point toward the past Chicago rumblings of a group like Isotope 217 of which Matthew Lux was a member (and deep heads will recognize mastering engineer Casey Rice worked with as well). And yes, there may be some sonic similarities, but as you might expect from the members of KVL, they easily differentiate themselves from their influences and contemporaries.

There is a deep sense of minimalism and groove throughout Volume 1 that is a bit more contemplative and open ala late 60's Miles Davis. Kirchner's playing is beautifully understated throughout, barely even touching the drums on "Peaceable" but still setting a vibe. Van Duerm takes on the most "leader" like role with his (also beautifully understated) various keyboards that modulate and keep things moving forward throughout the album. Lux meanwhile is still the bass player's bass player, his lines more of a sinewy funk than repetitive groove in an absolutely mesmerizing way. This is the first of multiple "volumes" of material that will be released over the coming years."-Astral Spirits



"Volume 1, the debut album from Chicago's KVL-the trio of percussionist Quin Kirchner, keyboardist Daniel Van Duerm, and bassist Matthew Lux-is a thoughtful mix of ambient jazz that carefully unfolds through the layering of acoustic and electronic textures. It's a cloudy, meditative record best suited for headphones, or for stereos in quiet rooms that encourage solitude.

At certain points, the music is barely there, almost fading into the background and becoming white noise. Silence is Volume 1's main draw, and on "Peaceable," Kirchner all but disappears, his faint drumming receding to guest Jaimie Branch's soft trumpet wails. On her recent album, Fly or Die II, Branch emitted shrill tones to lament U.S. politics; here, she takes the steam out of her instrument to give "Peaceable" a sultry essence. Compare that with "Bladewalker," the LP's nervy 16-minute centerpiece: The band locks into a mesmerizing loop of bass, warped keys and muted drums, giving a sense of finality. Then the trio lunges forward-cymbals start crashing, and the synths grow darker and edgier until the song fades out. On an album full of lush tranquility, "Bladewalker" snaps you back to reality while foreshadowing KVL's next move."-Marcus J. Moore, Bandcamp Daily


Artist Biographies

"Quinlan "Quin" Kirchner (born December 14, 1981) is an American jazz and improvisation musician (drums, percussion).

Kirchner received lessons from the age of ten at the Academy of Movement and Music and Merit Music Program of Chicago. With a scholarship from the Basin Street Scholarship, he studied at the University of New Orleans at age 18 with Ricky Sebastian, Jason Marsalis, Troy Davis and Johnny Vidacovich. He earned a bachelor's degree in jazz studies and worked in New Orleans u. a. with Jeff Albert, Irene Sage and Ed Petersen. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Kirchner moved to New York City, where he received his master's degree at the Manhattan School of Music under John Riley graduated before returning to Chicago. There he works since then u. a. with Jeb Bishop, Daniele D'Agaro, AJ Kluth, Greg Ward, Dave Rempis, Matthew Golombisky and the formations flashing., From Beyond (inter alia with Katherine Young, Tim Haldeman), Zing!, Lucky 7s and Elliot Bergman's NOMO. In Germany, Kirchner joined Georg Gräwe and Tobias Delius as part of RUHR.2010 - European Capital of Cultureon. In the field of jazz he was involved between 2006 and 2012 in five recording sessions."

-Wikipedia (Translated by Google) (https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quin_Kirchner)
3/13/2024

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

Daniel Van Duerm is a Chicago-based pianist & keyboardist, known for his work with Paid Time Off, Set Self On Fire, Bonzo Terks, Peabody & Sherman, & KVL.

-Squidco 3/13/2024

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

Bassist Matthew Lux is a member of Chicago Odense Ensemble, Exploding Star Orchestra, Heaven And Earth, Heroic Doses, Isotope 217, Life Lives, Mandarin Movie, Pulsar Quartet, Rob Mazurek Quintet, Underground Jazz Trio, and his own Matthew Lux Communication Arts Quartet.

-Discogs.com (https://www.discogs.com/artist/46777-Matthew-Lux)
3/13/2024

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

"Jaimie Breezy Branch (born 17 June 1983) is an American jazz trumpeter and composer.

Branch was raised in Red Hook, Brooklyn and started playing trumpet at age nine. At 14, she moved to Wilmette, a suburb of Chicago, before attending the New England Conservatory of Music (graduating in 2005). Later she moved back to Chicago, working as a musician, organizer and sound engineer on the local music scene, including with Jason Ajemian (on The Art of Dying, 2006), Keefe Jackson's Project Project (on Just Like This, 2007), and Tim Daisy' s New Fracture Quartet (on 1000 Lights, 2008), Anton Hatwich and Ken Vandermark. She has performed in Chicago and New York with her trio Princess, Princess, with bassist Toby Summerfield and drummer Frank Rosaly, and in trios with Tim Daisy and Daniel Levin, Matt Schneider and Jason Adasiewicz, and with Chris Velkommen/Sam Weinberg. Together with Jason Stein, Jeb Bishop and Jason Roebke, she founded the band Block and Tackle. To jazz she has contributed on five albums between 2006 and 2008.

In 2012 Branch moved to Baltimore, where she earned a master's degree in Jazz performance from Towson University. At this time she also founded the record label Pionic Records, where she releases the music of her group Bomb Shelter. In New York she has worked with Brandon Lopez, Fred Lonberg-Holm and Mike Stolthet among others. In addition, she performed on albums with the independent rock groups Never Enough Hope, Local H and Atlas Math. Currently, she works in a quartet with Chad Taylor (drums), Jason Ajemian (bass) and Tomeka Reid (cello), as well as with Brandon Lopez, Mike Pride, Shayna Dulberger and Weasel Walter, and with Yoni Kretzmer and Tobey Cederberg. She names Don Cherry, Axel Dörner, Booker Lite and Miles Davis among her musical influences. In 2017 she released her debut solo album, Fly or Die, with Tomeka Reid, Jason Ajemian, Chad Taylor, Matt Schneider (guitar), Ben LaMar Gay, and Josh Berman (cornet)."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaimie_Branch)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



SIDE A



1. North Branch 09:06

2. Peaceable 08:48

SIDE B



1. Bladewalker 16:26

Related Categories of Interest:


Vinyl Recordings
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Electro-Acoustic
Electro-Acoustic Improv
Chicago Jazz & Improvisation
Quartet Recordings
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