The Squid's Ear Magazine


Ducret, Marc: Tower, vol. 2 (Ayler)

The 2nd volume of guitarist Ducret's Tower project, an incredible quartet with saxophonist Tim Berne, violinist Dominique Pifarly and drummer Tom Rainey, complex and exultant, intertwining improv.
 

Price: $15.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 2.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Marc Ducret-electric guitar

Tim Berne-alto saxophone

Dominique Pifarely-violin

Tom Rainey-drums


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 7320470141861

Label: Ayler
Catalog ID: aylCD-119
Squidco Product Code: 15135

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2011
Country: France
Packaging: Cardstock foldover
Recorded by Matthieu Metzger with Quentin Fleury on September 24th & 25th, 2010 at Studio Sextan, Malakoff, France.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The second volume of the Tower project, an attempt at rendering with sonic means, the poetry and emotions conveyed by a short chapter in Vladimir Nabokov's Ada or Ardor, presents guitarist Marc Ducret in the company of long-time collaborators Dominique Pifarély (violin), Tim Berne (alto sax) and Tom Rainey (drums). Dedicated to the second half of the Tower 'repertoire', this offering showcases the four musicians at the top of their game, the bass-less line-up and peculiar sound of the entwined violin and alto sax leaving room for the guitar and drums to chose their roles throughout the pieces. The new compositions, although fully differentiated and autonomous, sometimes unfold with thematic motives and variations reminiscent of the ones presented on volume 1, therefore bringing feelings of familiarity and "déjà entendu" to the music."-Ayler Records


Artist Biographies

"Guitarist Marc Ducret was born in Paris in 1957. A self-taught musician, he began working in various groups (dance and folk included), and in the studio, before reaching the age of 20. In 1986, he became a member of the first French National Jazz Orchestra. Also in the late '80s, Ducret led his own trio and toured Europe, Africa, and Asia. In 1991, he began working with Tim Berne and went on to play with Berne in Caos Totale, Bloodcount, and Big Satan. Ducret has several solo recordings to his credit, released on Berne's Screwgun label and the Winter & Winter label. In the late '90s, Ducret formed a tentet, Seven Songs, to explore music of the '60s."-Joslyn Layne

-All Music (https://www.allmusic.com/artist/marc-ducret-mn0000955833/biography)
3/13/2024

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

"Tim Berne (born 1954) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.

Described by critic Thom Jurek as commanding "considerable power as a composer and ... frighteningly deft ability as a soloist", Berne has composed and performed prolifically since the 1980s. His mainstream success has been limited Ð Berne recorded two albums for Columbia Records Ð but he has released a significant body of work over the decades spanning dozens of critically acclaimed recordings.

Though Berne was a music fan, he had no interest in playing a musical instrument until he was in college, when he purchased an alto saxophone. He was more interested in rhythm and blues music Ð Stax records releases and Aretha Franklin, especially Ð until he heard Julius Hemphill's 1972 recording Dogon A.D.

Hemphill was known for his integration of soul music and funk with free jazz. Berne moved to New York City in 1974. There Berne took lessons from Hemphill, and later recorded with him.

In 1979, Berne founded Empire Records to release his own recordings. He recorded Fulton Street Maul and Sanctified Dreams for Columbia Records, which generated some discussion and controversy, due in part to the fact that Berne's music had little in common with the neo-tradionalist hard bop performers prominent in the mid-1980s. Some regarded Berne's music as uncommercial. In the late 1990s Berne founded Screwgun Records, which has released his own recordings, as well as others' music.

Beyond his recordings as a bandleader, Berne has recorded and/or performed with guitarist Bill Frisell, avant-garde composer/sax player John Zorn, violinist Mat Maneri, guitarist David Torn, cellist Hank Roberts, trumpet player Herb Robertson, the ARTE Quartett and as a member of the cooperative trio Miniature.

Recent years have found Berne performing in several different groups with drummers Tom Rainey and Gerald Cleaver, keyboardist Craig Taborn, bassists Michael Formanek and Drew Gress, guitarists Marc Ducret and David Torn, and reeds player Chris Speed.

He is one-third of the group BBC (Berne/Black/Cline) along with drummer Jim Black and Nels Cline of Wilco. The group released a critically acclaimed album called The Veil in 2011.

Berne's complex, multi-section compositions are often quite lengthy; twenty- to thirty-minute pieces are not unusual. One critic wrote that Berne's long songs "don't grow tiresome. The musicians are brilliantly creative and experienced enough not to get lost in all the room provided by these large time frames." "

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

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

"Dominique Pifarély modernized jazz violin, combining extraordinary technical skills with an inclusive idea of music-making. He has been soon very in-demand as a straight jazz player, but was soon in some of the more adventurous groups in Europe, too, including Mike Westbrook's band (On Dukes' Birthday, hatART) and the Vienna Art Orchestra.

In 1979, he began touring with bassist Didier Levallet and guitarist Gérard Marais as a trio. In the 1980s he began leading his own bands, as can be heard on 2 records, Insula Dulcamara (1988) et Oblique (1992).

In 1985, Pifarély started to work with reedist Louis Sclavis and in 1992, they formed the Sclavis/Pifarély Acoustic Quartet, featuring guitarist Marc Ducret and bassist Bruno Chevillon, and recorded for ECM. In the late 1990s, he started a duo work with pianist François Couturier, and they recorded a prominent album (Poros, ECM, 1997).

In the 2000's, Dominique Pifarély leads different personal projects. Impromptu is a development of the collaboration with François Couturier, adding counter tenor Dominique Visse and a work on contemporary poetry. He initiated numerous text/music experiences with french writer François Bon and actors Violaine Schwartz and Pierre Baux. The Dédales Ensemble is a acoustic nine piece band. He founded in 2007 a trio with keyboard player Julien Padovani and drummer Eric Groleau, and the Dédales Ensemble ("Time Geography", Poros éditions, 2013), played in duo with Michele Rabbia or Vincent Courtois,

In his mature style, the classical violin tradition and the swing lessons combine with a contemporary European sonic exploration ; his technical mastery and quick imagination allow him to move seamlessly between these worlds.

Dominique Pifarély created in 2014 a new quartet with Antonin Rayon on piano, Bruno Chevillon on double bass and François Merville on drums ("Tracé provisoire", ECM, 2016), and gives solo recitals. Then he is part, since 2015, of the collaborative trio Sclavis/Pifarély/Courtois ("Asian fields variations", ECM, 2017).

He regularly performs in whole Europe, and has been touring in USA, Canada, Japan, India, Middle East, Latin America or Africa."

-Dominique Pifarely Website (https://pifarely.net/dominique-pifarely/)
3/13/2024

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

"Thomas "Tom" Rainey (born 1957, Santa Barbara, California) is an American drummer.

After attending Berklee College of Music he moved to New York in 1979. He has played with American jazz saxophonist and composer Tim Berne, and also with Nels Cline, Fred Hersch, Tony Malaby, Tom Varner, Drew Gress, Kenny Werner, Mark Helias, and Simon Nabatov. A prolific session musician, he has appeared on close to eighty recordings over a career spanning over 25 years.

He released his own first album, Pool School (Clean Feed), in 2010."

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

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


Track Listing:



1. Sur l'Electricité 16:40

2. Real Thing #3 21:32

3. Softly Her Tower Crumbled in the Sweet Silent Sun 17:41

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
European Improv, Free Jazz & Related
Guitarists, &c.
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Ayler Records
2011 Top 40
Quartet Recordings
Instant Rewards

Search for other titles on the label:
Ayler.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Perelman, Ivo / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey
Truth Seeker
(Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))
Meeting at Park West Studios in Brooklyn, the NY trio of Ivo Perelman on tenor saxophone, Mark Helias on bass and Tom Rainey on drums record seven collective free improvisations of great depth and expression, unhurried playing that concentrates on the group dialog, yielding space for exceptional soloing supported by perceptive interaction; masterful!
Ducret, Marc (w/ Martinez / Helary / Bopp / Ducret)
Palm Sweat: Marc Ducret Plays the Music of Tim Berne [VINYL 2 LPs]
(Out Of Your Head Records)
A frequent collaborator with NY saxophonist and composer Tim Berne, French guitarist Marc Ducret takes on Berne's compositions, at times in multiple interpretations of the same work or by merging pieces together, performed with the superb support of trumpeter Fabrice Martinez, flutist Sylvaine Helary, trombonist Christiane Bopp and Ducret's son, cellist Bruno Ducret.
Laubrock, Ingrid (Laubrock / Swift/ Reid / Seabrook / Formanek / Rainey)
The Last Quiet Place
(Pyroclastic Records)
Destined for top lists of 2023, saxophonist & composer Ingrid Laubrock's ambitious work brings together unusual orchestration through previous collaborators Brandon Seabrook (guitar), Michael Formanek (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums) along with violinist Mazz Swift and cellist Tomeka Reid, for six fascinating and articulate compositions of farge ranging mood and gestures.
Berne, Tim Trio
Oceans and
(Intakt)
A new trio setting from New York alto saxophonist Tim Berne with accordionist & multi-instrumentalist Aurora Nealand and long-time associate, cellist Hank Roberts, a warmly orchestrated band that allows fluid and relaxed approaches to their playing, Berne's compositions evoking exquisite tonal color and diverse conversations from pacific to tempestuous.
Berne, Tim / Matt Mitchell
One More, Please
(Intakt)
Leveraging more than a decade of collaboration, New York saxophonist Tim Berne and pianist Matt Mitchell present an intimate live concert in Montreal at Club Soda, performing mostly Berne compositions and one by Julius Hemphill ("Number 2") in a thoughtful and innately lyrical set of seemingly telepathic dialogs interpreting Berne's intricate and innovative works.
Laubrock, Ingrid / Tom Rainey
Counterfeit Mars
(Relative Pitch)
Relentlessly playing through the pandemic, the husband & wife duo of tenor & soprano saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and drummer Tom Rainey honed their skills, developing this album of primarily composed pieces worked out through improvising; thirteen succinct, fascinating and sometimes quirky dialogs, displaying a depth that only two such close collaborators could achieve.
Blaser, Samuel / Marc Ducret
Voyageurs
(Jazzdor Series)
Studio recordings from Loguivy-Plougras, France between Swiss improvising trombonist Samuel Blaser and French guitarist Marc Ducret performing on electric, 6 improvisations focused on sonic force, creative conversation and exploratory intertwining, finding mutual topics that fascinate and surprise both experimentally and lyrically; a well balanced duo.
Malaby's, Tony Sabino (w / Monder / Formanek / Rainey)
The Cave Of Winds
(Pyroclastic Records)
Updating his Sabino quartet of Michael Formanek on double bass and Tom Rainey on drums with guitarist Ben Monder taking Marc Ducret's role, saxophonist Tony Malaby, here on tenor & soprano, charges forward with both modern, angular NY jazz and with experimental free improv both light and dark, in this captivating studio album of six Malaby compositions and one collective improv.
Laubrock, Ingrid
Dreamt Twice, Twice Dreamt (Music For Chamber Orchestra And Small Ensemble) [2 CDs]
(Intakt)
The 2nd orchestral album from saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, two very different but complementary sets of compositions using electronics in mostly acoustic settings: the 1st with the larger EOS Chamber Orchestra and guests including Cory Smythe, Tom Rainey, & Sam Pluta; the 2nd a smaller group of Laubrock, Smythe & Pluta + guests Adam Motlock, Josh Modney, and Zeena Parkins.
Moore, Michael / NDR Bigband
Sanctuary
(Ramboy)
Multi-reedist Michael Moore presents works from his catalog with the powerfully flexible 19-piece NDR Big Band, drawing from the history of his Ramboy label, including a tribute to Stravinsky, expanding a trio for clarinets, rearranging an Ellingtonian piece originally written for Available Jelly, and the title track, written for his mother as the first recording for Fragile Quartet.
MacroQuarktet, The
The Complete Night: Live At The Stone NYC [2 CDs]
(Out Of Your Head Records)
NYC Downtown mainstays, trumpeters Dave Ballou and Herb Robertson, are heard in a full concert at The Stone in NYC in 2007 with bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tom Rainey, concentrating their work in the Satoko Fuji Orchestra and Orange Then Blue into their own quartet, this their first performance together their energy, inventivenss and enthusiasm is on full display.
Berne, Tim / Nasheet Waits
The Coanda Effect
(Relative Pitch)
A tour de force saxophone duo between two masterful New York players--alto saxophonist Tim Berne and drummer Nasheet Waits--recording live at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn NY in 2019, in two impressive dialogs: "Tensile" for nearly 40 minutes of articulate expression and powerful rhythmic interaction; and the more introspective "5See" of impressive technique and intention.
Nabatov, Simon Quintet (w/ Speed / Robertson / Hebert / Rainey)
Plain
(Clean Feed)
Russian-born Germany/NY-based pianist Simon Nabatov's Quintet with the new lineup of Chris Speed on tenor sax & clarinet, Herb Robertson on trumpet & cornet, John Hebert on double bass and Tom Rainey on drums, performing Nabatov's magnificently lyrical, sophisticated and often chamber-oriented compositions, an incredible achievement in writing and performance.
Burke, Rob / Ben Monder / Tom Rainey / Ben Grayson
Slip Sliding
(FMR)
Rob Burke composed the first seven pieces for this experimental NY quartet, the multi-reedist joined by guitarist Ben Monder, drummer Tom Rainey, and Ben Grayson on electronics, the last "Discordat" a collective improvisation in 4 parts, as the band investigates emotional approaches to playing, using subtle distortion and Grayson's post-editing sonic additions.
Formanek, Michael Very Practical Trio (w/ Tim Berne / Mary Halvorson)
Even Better
(Intakt)
New York bassist Michael Formanek's trio with Tim Berne on alto saxophone and Mary Halvorson on guitar, embraces free music with strong melodic intent through Formanek's solid compositions, providing interesting structures in time and texture through sublimely complex and sinuous pieces that lead to rewarding resolutions of profoundly authoritative improvisation.
Ducret, Marc
Lady M
(Illusions)
Taking on one of Shakespeare's most famous and frightening female characters, Lady Macbeth, in an 11-piece ensemble that include luminaries Liudas Mockunas, Samuel Blaser, and French guitarist Marc Ducret himself, using operatic form to focus his compositions on the emotional depth of his character, blending composed, improvised and sonic material into an exciting and unsettling work, drawing incredible performances from his players.
Sinton's, Josh Predicate Trio (w / Chris Hoffman / Tom Rainey)
Making Bones
(Iluso)
Concentrating on the lower reeds, baritone saxophone and bass clarinetist Josh Sinton's Predicate Trio brings the best of New York's Downtown improv scene through drummer Tom Rainey and cellist Christopher Hoffman, the album opening with a submerged baritone solo leading to seven original Sinton compositions and two uniquely mischievous and informed collective improvisations.
Laubrock, Ingrid / Tom Rainey
Utter
(Relative Pitch)
After their 2016 tour of the US West Coast, husband and wife free improvising duo Ingrid Laubrock (tenor & soprano sax) and Tom Rainey (drums) entered a Brooklyn studio with a set of co-written compositions, which they weave together with free improv, relying on cues that can trigger a given composition at any time, adding a unique layer of communication to their exuberant playing.
Costa, Mario (w/ Marc Ducret / Beniot Delbecq)
Oxy Patina
(Clean Feed)
Drummer, composers and electronic artist Mario Costa in his first solo album as a leader, presenting 9 original compositions performed at the 26th Festival de Jazz na Praca da Erva in a trio with French improvisers Benoit Delbecq on piano, prepared piano and synth, and Marc Ducret on guitar, a great album and an absolutely stunning concert by three masterful players.
Berne, Tim / Matt Mitchell Duo
Angel Dusk
(Screwgun)
Following on New York pianist Matt Mitchell's solo album of Tim Berne compositions, the two join in the studio to record these 8 compositions in a dynamic album of dialogs that includes energetic interaction, explorative playing, and beautiful lyrical work, a profoundly intimate and connected release borne from their long history of collaboration.
Bruun's, Peter All Too Human (w/ Tranberg / Ducret / Toldam)
Vernacular Avant-garde
(Ayler)
Copenhagen drummer Peter Bruun leads a band with guitarist Marc Ducret, trumpeter Kasper Tranberg and synth player Simon Toldam, and upbeat electric free jazz album of powerful intent and compelling compositions performing melodic and insightful compositions, the band well acquainted from work on Ducret's own albums and with Samuel Blaser; recommended.
Baars, Ab / Ig Henneman / Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey
Perch Hen Brock & Rainy | Live @ The Jazz Happening Tampere
(Relative Pitch)
Crossing Netherland and New York players, Ab Baars on reeds, Ig Henneman on viola, Ingrid Laubrcok on sax and Tom Rainey on drums present an album of insightful improv that borrows approaches to sound from natural world, performed live at Tampere Jazz Happening, Finland in 2014.
Carvalhais, Hugo (Pifarely / Pinto / Cymerman / Pifarely)
Grand Valis
(Clean Feed)
Bassist and composer Hugo Carvalhais in an album hinting at chamber jazz with Dominique Pifarely's extraordinary violin work, but taking the music into unusual territory with his own keyboards, electronics, and by Jeremiah Cymerman's electronic manipulations.
Tarbaby (Waits / Evans / Revis / + Lake & Ducret )
Fanon
(RogueArt)
Tarbaby (Orrin Evans on piano, Eric Revis on bass, and Nasheet Waits on drums) is joined by saxophonist Oliver Lake and guitarist Marc Ducret for an album inspired by philosopher, psychologist and revolutionary Franz Fanon, a superb album balancing melodic and intense playing.
Schubert Quartet, Matthias
Trappola
(Red Toucan)
Tenor saxophonist Matthias Schubert leads a quartet with Claudio Puntin (clarinet) Carl Ludwig Hubsch (tuba), and Tom Rainey (drums), integrating New Orleans jazz forms into modern improvisation, including covering Jelly Roll Morton's "Shreveport Stomp".
Smith, Ches and These Arches (Smith / Berne / Malaby / Halvorson / Parkins)
Hammered
(Clean Feed)
Drawing from some of NYC's finest - Tim Berne, Tony Malaby, Mary Halvorson and Andrea Parks - drummer Ches Smith's band takes the Downtown NY strategy to bridge experimental rock and avant jazz in unexpected and astonishing ways.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC