The Squid's Ear Magazine

Borbetomagus

Seven Reasons for Tears

Borbetomagus: Seven Reasons for Tears (Agaric)

The unique voice of the Borbetomagus quartet recording in NYC in 1987, dark and beautiful improvisation that takes freedom to a unique level of squealing skronky feverish overtones and exhilaration.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Jim Sauter-saxophones

Don Dietrich-saxophones

Donald Miller-guitar

Adam Nodelman-bass


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UPC: 786497187324

Label: Agaric
Catalog ID: Agaric 1993
Squidco Product Code: 15559

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2011
Country: USA
Packaging: Jewel Tray
Recorded at the Music Box, NYC on December 6th, 1987 by Jacques Kralian.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"It's very difficult to decide which part of this package to enjoy more: Borbetomagus in one of their last recorded incarnations as a quartet with bassist Adam Nodfelman, or the inner sleeve's liner note review by Borbeto fan club pres. and esteemed outsider music critic Byron Coley. Both have the freewheeling intensity to take you not only by surprise, but assault your senses without mercy for 40 minutes or so. But perhaps it's the combination that makes this package more than appealing, necessary even.

Seriously, though, with all due respect to Coley, Borbetomagus' seven pieces here are so over the top in terms of noise improv that there is scarcely anyone in their league -- and perhaps that is why they are so obscure. The overtonal sonances and found harmonics that are discovered and put through the ringer here by saxophonists Jim Sauter and Don Dietrich, and guitar skronk whiz Donald Miller, are unlike anything heard on disc before -- including the band's own recordings.

When placed in contrast to the thermo sub spinal bass attack of Nodelman, the walls begin to fall in a row -- and violently. This is not pretty music, but it is beautiful, gorgeous even. Its density is so complete and its delightful chaos so utterly free of any notion of conventio n -- even those of the avant-garde -- that they exist outside musical speech at all. Here Borbetomagus may assault the listener as they always do, but they do so on such a neural wavelength that, once properly attuned, resistance is impossible. Truly this recording is an example of what Ornette Coleman calls "ugly beauty." "-Thom Jurek, All Music


Get additional information at All Music

Artist Biographies

Multi-reedist Jim Sauter was born July 23, 1953 in Nyack, NY. He currently lives in Sparkill, NY. He is a primary member of Borbetomagus.

-Squidco 3/13/2024

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

"Don Dietrich is a saxophonist and founding member of New York City based improvisational group, Borbetomagus. Recently, he has become involved with the noise/free jazz "supergroup" The New Monuments (with C. Spencer Yeh and Ben Hall)."

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

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

"Donald Miller was born on 7 May 1958 in Washington, DC, and raised in suburban Maryland. At age 13, he began formal guitar lessons. At 18, he moved to New York City, where he was educated at Columbia University's College and the School of Visual Arts, receiving a BFA from the latter in 1982. He remained in The City for a quarter century.

Miller entered the NYC New Music scene in 1978, already possessing a strong background in the avant-garde. His first regular band was the now cult-status group Sick Dick & the Volkswagens, which featured infamous critic/crooner Lester Bangs as an auxiliary member. In February 1979, Miller met and first played with saxophonists Jim Sauter and Don Dietrich, giving immediate birth to Borbetomagus.

From 1984-99, Miller also worked closely with free jazz drummer William Hooker, in both duo and larger band formats. In this milieu, Miller met saxist Blaise Siwula, with whom he has worked in duo and trios with drummers Mike Evans, Jeff Arnal and Matt Hannafin, and the late synth guru Doug Walker.

In August 2001, Miller and his wife moved to New Orleans, four weeks ahead of the September 11 attack on NYC, and into a house 90+% unscathed by the wrath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. There he formed The Death Posture with fellow guitarist Rob Cambre and Butoh dancer Vanessa Skantze in early 2002. This ensemble performed over two dozen butoh actions, later including dancer Alex Haverfield, in the Gulf Coast area, mostly to a stunned New Orleans, until late 2004 when Skantze and Haverfield took themselves and the name (with Miller's blessing) to Seattle. Miller and Cambre have continued to perform in solo and ensemble lineups, and gave two notable reunion performances with Vanessa in 2006."

-Discogs.com (https://www.discogs.com/artist/329415-Donald-Miller)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. ? 8:38

2. ? 3:59

3. ? 5:00

4. ? 5:18

5. ? 4:40

6. ? 5:33

7. ? 9:56

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Quartet Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
Agaric.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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