The Squid's Ear Magazine


Various Artists: Lao Dan / Rick Countryman / Colin Webster: Saxophone Anatomy (Armageddon Nova)

Saxophone solo improvisation omnibus by three free saxophonists from around the globe: Lao Dan from China recording in an underground bomb shelter in an agressive solo performance; US ex-pat Rick Countryman from the Philippines in a traditional yet extremely free jazz exposition; and London's Colin Webster on baritone sax for an exploration of extended techniques.
 

Price: $14.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 4.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Lao Dan-alto saxophone

Rick Countryman-alto saxophone

Colin Webster-baritone saxophone


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




Label: Armageddon Nova
Catalog ID: AN R-6
Squidco Product Code: 25328

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2017
Country: Japan
Packaging: Jewel Case
Track 1 recorded at China Laio/ning Military shelter on May 1st, 2017.

Track 2 recorded at Strawberry James Music Studio in Quezon City, Phillippines, by Mrk Estandarte.

Track 3 recorded at SoundSavers in London, England, on july 29th, 2017 by Alex Clegg.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"China's Lao-Dan, who also participates in the free music group "Red Scarf", is a guerrilla recording his track in an underground bomb shelter, making use of echoes like a giant air cannon in a special place called a shelter, revealing a fast and forceful style.

Rick Countryman in the Philippines is the most "free(ly) jazz" style among the participating artists, and it keeps the "core", yet listens to the roar that keeps struggling in search of the light further beyond the next one.

Colin Webster, from London based in UK, has already released a lot of work, challenging the extreme north of expression by saxophone with a melody kept on the verge of collapse while heavily using special rendition style.

The intention of this work questioned the area of expression by saxophone from the root. It is the one that sinks deeply into the sea of ​​formalin, with each of the three standing positioned and aimed, and illuminating the differing personalities and styles respectively."-Deathrash Armageddon


Artist Biographies

"Lao Dan was born in Chinese border city Dandong in 1987. He started on Saxophone when he was 8 and took up Chinese flute in 14 when he began majored in Chinese classical music.Lao Dan decided to make flute his primary instrument when he attended ShenYang Conservatory of Music in 2007. There he focus on playing Chinese traditional music ranging from Chinese ancient music, Wuju opera, Northern Shaanxi folk music to Local Opera. At the same time, he also involved in researching Chinese modern national music.

World music caught his ears in 2011 and he turned to the study and practice of it. Dan not only embraced Indian Bansuri, Turkish kaval, but also absorbed them into his personal style. He is skillful in changing the traditional way to play Chinese flute. It can be seen from the music of Xiban that gave a glimpse of his unique improvisational ability.

He was enchanted by Jazz since he recognized and cooperated with many jazz musicians in Shanghai. It made a big difference in his performance style when he combined Voice, Chinese Suona, Bamboo Sax, Didgeridoo, Duduk, Jaw Harp with effect pedal, which rendered his music a kaleidoscope of color. Dan jointed with Xing and Yu in Red Scarf in 2013 showed his passionate willingness in the region/ area of Experimental, Free Improvisation."

-Lao Dan Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/dan.lao.79)
3/13/2024

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)
3/13/2024

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

Colin Webster is an improvising saxophonist based in London. He is a frequent collaborator with Mark Holub, Graham Dunning, Andrew Lisle, John Dikeman, &c.

-Squidco 3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Self-Destruct Machine 17:048

2. River Remains River 19:38

3. Homerton 19:16

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Recordings by or featuring Reed & Wind Players
Solo Artist Recordings
Japanese & Asian Improv/Rock

Search for other titles on the label:
Armageddon Nova.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Bucher / Countryman / Gaerlan
The Cosmic Stream
(FMR)
Captured as a live stream recording in 2023 at Tonehouse Studios in Singapore, after 26 days of touring South East Asia by the 12 year collaborative trio of Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, American ex-pat living in the Philippines Rick Countryman on alto sax and Filipino bassist Johnny Gaerlan, a great free jazz session summing up a satisfying tour.
Interstellar Nao Quartet (Countryman / Castanon / Cano / Lauber)
Odisea
(FMR)
A wild odyssey in collective free jazz referencing the 16th century trade ships "La Nao de la China" from four players improvising in the studio in Mexico City for three extended, energetic exchanges of acoustic and electric excitement, from Philippine-based alto saxophonist Rick Countryman, Jalisco guitarist Juan Castanon, and Mexican bassist & drummer Itzam Cano & Gabriel Lauber.
Bucher / Countryman / Hori
The Movement Radical
(ChapChap Records)
During a tour by frequent collaborators, American saxophonist living in the Philippines Rick Countryman and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, the duo joined with acoustic bassist Tetsuro Hori for five nights in the Kansai region of Japan, on the fifth night performing at the Big Apple in Kobe, Japan where this hard blowing session of free jazz was captured.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Old Drains New Stains
(FMR)
The collaboration between Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, Filipino bassist Simon Tan and American ex-patriate living in the Phillipines, saxophonist Rick Countryman, continues with this exceptional collective free jazz album, their fourth on FMR, captured in the studio in Quezon City, Philippines in 2022 for nine exuberant and astute improvisations.
Interstellar Nao (Rick Countryman / Garbriel Lauber / Itzam Cano / Juan Castanon)
4tet
(FMR)
The second Interstellar Nao album recorded at No Somos Nada Distro Cafe in Mexico City presents the previous day's concerts from their first FMR album Live at No Somos Nada, expanding the trio of Philippine-based saxophonist Rick Countryman, Swiss drummer living in Mexico City Gabriel Lauber and Lauber's collaborator in the group Zero Point, Mexico City native double bass player Itzam Canois, with guitarist Juan Castañón, founder of Impromuzak Collective.
Bucher, Christian / Rick Countryman
The Force Of Gravity
(FMR)
Documenting the continued growth and evolution of the longer than a decade collaboration between American alto saxophonist living in the Philippines Ricky Countryman and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, performing in the Strawberry Jams studio in Quezon City for thirteen succinct improvisations titled with stellar analogies, from pensive music to excitingly dynamic interplay.
Interstellar Nao (Rick Countryman / Gabriel Lauber / Itzam Cano)
Live at No Somos Nada
(FMR)
Referencing the Spanish galleons that sailed the Pacific Ocean between Acapulco in Mexico and Manila in the Philippine Islands, this meeting in Mexico city brings Philippine-based saxophonist Rick Countryman together with Swiss drummer living in Mexico City Gabriel Lauber and Lauber's collaborator in the group Zero Point, Mexico City native double bass player Itzam Canois.
Machinefabriek
+
(Machinefabriek)
Trying to strike a balance between composition and the challenges of being a young parent, Rutger Zuydervelt, aka Machinefabriek, created a series of short tracks that could be developed quickly with invited collaborators, a concept that worked so well that in little time he found 52 enthusiastic and diverse musicians to develop the expanse of this impressive collection.
Countryman / Bucher / Yandsen
The Malaysia Live Fact Session
(FMR)
Two 2022 live free jazz sessions from Malaysia, the first a saxophone duo between US ex-pat based in The Philippines, Rick Countryman on alto and Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen, appropriately recorded at The Saxophone Store in Kula Lumpur; then 5 trio improvisations recorded in concert at Live Fact in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia on the same tour.
River People (Bucher / Countryman / Alegre / Hori)
Sol Expression
(ChapChap Records)
Evoking images of Indigenous Filipinos through free improvisation, with titles referencing the rivers, rains and environment that define them, the multi-national River People quartet of Christian Bucher on drums, Johnny Alegre on guitar, Tetsuro Hori on bass and Rick Countryman on alto saxophone are captured in the studio in Manila for seven superb collective conversations.
Countryman, Rick / Christian Bucher
Once
(FMR)
From the same 2017 session that was released as the album Estuary, this concert in the Philippines between American expatriate saxophonist Rick Countryman and visiting Swiss drummer Christian Bucher expands on the free playing of these two empathetic improvisers, presenting a mix of textural, conceptual, melodic and rhythmic interplay steeped in their personal histories.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Rick Countryman
Misaki Castle Tower
(ChapChap Records)
The fourth and final night of a series of concerts after three nights of trios and quartets, this live recording captures the duo of legendary Japanese drummer Sabu Toyozumi and American alto saxophonist living in the Philippines Rick Countryman, freely improvising four impresseive and creative conversations of both intricate and reflective dialog.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Rick Countryman
I Am Village
(FMR)
After 3 consecutive nights performing in trio & quartet formats at Balete at Kamias, in Quezon City, Philippines, the duo of drummer Sabu Toyozum and alto saxophonist Rick Countryman performed the final set as a duo, their many collaborations evident in the freedom and flexibility each provides to the other, delivering an exemplary example of a free jazz sax & drum duo.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Rick Countryman / Simon Tan / Isla Antinero / Stella Ignacio
The Search for the Five Senses
(Sol Disk Records)
Recorded during Sabu Toyozumi's first collaboration with Rick Countryman in 2017, this album features music from the same nights that produced Jya-Ne and Center of Contradiction: 6 tracks from an August 11th quintet performance with voice and trombone, and electric bass; plus 2 tracks from the following night in a trio format with acoustic bass.
Toyozumi / Yandsen / Countryman
Future of Change
(ChapChap Records)
The collaboration of American alto saxophonist living in the Philippines Rick Countryman with legendary Japanese free improvising drummer Sabu Toyozumim, also performing on Erhu, continues with this outstanding performance at the LIMBO Art Gallery in Makati, Philippines in 2020, joined by Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen for a burning set of free jazz.
Toyozumi / Countryman / Tan
Chasing The Sun [VINYL]
(ChapChap Records)
Two lives 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.
Other Recommended Releases:
Impetus Group (Serries / Webster / Verbruggen / Verhoeven / Jackson))
Density Dots
(Klanggalerie)
Their impetus motivated by the 60's & 70's London improv scene, epitomized by Derek Bailey's Company group, guitarist Dirk Serries leads this assemblage of quick-witted improviser as they challenge each other through pointillistic and sublime passages; from Tom Jackson (clarinet), Colin Webster (sax), Martina Verhoeven (piano), Dirk Serries (guitar) & Teun Verbruggen (drums).
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Sacred Fire Of The Free
(FMR)
The continuing collaboration from the collective free jazz trio of Philippines-based American alto saxophonist Rick Countryman, Philippines bassist Simon Tan and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher is heard in this studio session of eight lyrically inclined tracks of spontaneous interaction, a well-balanced mix of energetic grooves and contemplative group conversation.
Yanagawa, Homei
Homura
(Armageddon Nova)
Two extended pieces of solo free improvisation from Japanese alto saxophonist Homei Yanagawa, aka Yoshinori Yanagawa, who regularly performs solo, releasing this album 30 years after his first solo album in 1991, Ground and Figure, here recording in the studio for confidently active and diverse approaches to solo expression; engaging and absorbing work.
Countryman, Rick
The First Bird
(ChapChap Records)
Taking his inspiration from the concepts and work of German fractal image & video artist Joerg Wand, US-born and Philippines-based alto saxophonist Rick Countryman presents his first unaccompanied saxophone album, as he flows, winds and weaves his saxophone along rich peninsular curves to illustrate Wand's vision through fluid and sustained playing.
Lijiang Quintet
Crossing A River By Rope
(fo'c'sle)
A rare and exuberant exchange of sonic discourse between Chinese and American improvisers recorded in the Yunnan Province of China at the Lijiang Studio artist residency, in a uniquely voiced quintet with Theresa Wong on cello & voice, Lao Dan on saxophone & bamboo instruments, John McCowen on clarinet & recorder, Li Xing on electric & acoustic guitars, and Deng Boyu on percussion & found objects.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Blue Spontaneity
(FMR)
Drawn from 3 days of recording in July 2019, after more than 6 years of collaboration in the Philippines between drummer Christian Bucher, alto saxophonist Rick Countryman, and bassist Simon Tan, and released as a complement to their "Empathy" album, in trio improvisations, plus the title track a duo between Bucher & Countryman; a melodic and well-balanced album of free jazz.
Tonus (Serries / Verhoeven / Webster)
Segment Tones
(A New Wave of Jazz)
Exploring long tones and harmonic interactions of consonance & dissonance through a slowly rotating and patiently evolving series of tones with each of the players in the Tonus trio doubling on wind instruments, as performed by Dirk Serries on soprano melodica & accordion, Martina Verhoeven on concertina & cello, and Colin Webster on clarinet & alto saxophone.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Simon Tan / Rick Countryman / Yong Yandsen
Voices Of The Spirit
(ChapChap Records)
Recorded during a series of concerts reuniting alto saxphonist Rick Countryman with mentor and friend, drummer Sabu Toyozumi, this live concert at Tago Jazz Cafe in Philippines includes acoustic bassist Simon Tan and free improvising Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen, in an adventurous set of extended performances of intertwining reeds and rhythm; superb!
Toyozumi / Tan / Countryman
Turtle Bird
(FMR)
The entire first set and the final selection from the last set of a live concert at at Tago Jazz Cafe, in Quezon City, Philippines from the trio of Simon Tan on acoustic bass, Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, and Sabu Toyozumi on drums, including the full performance of material from their Chasing the Sun album; fluid, intelligent, captivating free jazz.
Musson, Rachel / Naoko Saito / Audrey Lauro
The Region Of Braille Responsibility [CD with English Braille Sheet]
(Armageddon Nova)
Three female saxophonist from around the world--Rachel Musson (UK), Naoko Saito (Japan) and Audrey Lauro (Belgium)--in a compilation of solo saxophone works, two extended pieces from Musson and Satio, and four shorter works from Laura, with a CD insert with English Braille characters, and a QR code that, when scanned, plays the audio information for the album.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC