The Squid's Ear Magazine


Swell, Steve / Robert Boston / Michael Vatcher: Brain In A Dish (NoBusiness)

Trombonist Steve Swell stands out in this trio of collective improvisation, recorded in the studio in Brooklyn with pianist Robert Boston, also on organ, and drummer Michael Vatcher, in a set of eleven outstanding dialogs that range from highly energetic to deeply introspective, with quirky and unusual technique from Vatcher and Swell adding unique qualities to their collective "brain".
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Michael Vatcher-drums

Robert Boston-piano, organ

Steve Swell-trombone


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Label: NoBusiness
Catalog ID: NBCD 121
Squidco Product Code: 28271

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2019
Country: Lithuania
Packaging: Jewel Case
Recorded at Park West Studios, in Brooklyn, New York, on August 16th, 2018, by Jim Clouse.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"It is hard to think of a more complete trombone player on the scene than Steve Swell. While a go-to sideman for the likes of William Parker, Ken Vandermark, Jason Kao Hwang and Tim Daisy, he has also amassed a significant body of work over the years in his own right. Although his output has featured compositions of increasing sophistication, Swell remains a committed and accomplished improviser, and that is the turf he stakes out on the eleven extemporized studio selections on Brain In A Dish, with the help of pianist/organist Robert Boston and drummer Michael Vatcher.

Swell calls on the entire range of his instrument from whinnying heights to the gruffest bottom end. He blusters, whispers, protests and entreats, sometimes all in the same supple and expressive figures. In Boston and Vatcher, Swell has chosen partners who skew the improvisations towards the free jazz vernacular, but can go anywhere. Vatcher in particular brings a rhythmic sensibility to even the most adventurous moments, making it seem a natural fit. Boston supplies chops informed by contemporary classical practice and adds impressionistic textures, all the more so when behind the organ. While they operate in perfect but taut balance, you never know which direction they are going to take, as unlikely gambits surface, prosper or dissipate.

Among the highlights, the title track gets proceedings off to an explosive start. Here as throughout, Swell strikes up an especially noteworthy rapport with Vatcher, as they trade blistering attacks, while Boston's jabs tease and prickle. As the cut progresses, they journey stage by stage from fierce to reflective in a series of self-contained phases. On "Tastier Than Oranges," Swell's punchy staccato launches a spare jumpy exchange, haunted by Boston's spectral shimmer on the piano interior, while on the following "No Heavy Perfumes," more choppy interplay builds to a fiery crescendo and an abrupt stop. In contrast, the glacial chords of "Trepanation Trepidation" vie with the deepest trombone tones and a spare shuffle, in a satisfyingly measured dialogue.

Also worth a mention is the great in-your-face recording by Jim Clouse at Brooklyn's Park West Studios, which allows full appreciation of the nuances of Swell's playing, and forms the icing on an already tasty cake."-John Sharpe, All About Jazz


Get additional information at All About Jazz

Artist Biographies

"California native Michael Vatcher, now residing in Amsterdam, quickly progressed from hitting household furniture to taking vibraphone and snare drum lessons as a child. In California, he played with reedist Michael Moore, with whom Vatcher has had a long musical relationship, John Handy, and Terry Gibbs. After spending a year in New York City, Vatcher moved to Holland in 1981.

Since arriving in Holland, Vatcher has played with such groups as the Tristan Honsinger Sextet, the Martin Altena Ensemble, John Zorn, The Ex, Roof (with Phil Minton, Tom Cora, and Luc Ex), and Van Dyke Parks. Vatcher is also a regular accompanist with the School for New Dance Development in Amsterdam, and has an ongoing musical relationship with dancers Katie Duck and Eileen Standley."

-All About Jazz (https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/michaelvatcher)
3/13/2024

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

"Robert Boston is a pianist who regularly performs free jazz, contemporary classical, rock and electronic music. As a composer, Boston endeavors to fuse his eclectic experience, finding form within mechanical noise and functionality of harmony/melody for each specific dance piece or instrumentation. He has scored dances by Korhan Basaran, Diane Coburn Bruning, Giada Ferrone, Loni Landon, Lone Larsen, Jodi Melnick, Pietro Pireddu, Caitlin Trainor, and the Martha Graham Dance Company. Boston has appeared on NPR's Front Row and at the Prospect Park Bandshell, the Joyce Theater, 92Y Tribeca, The Knitting Factory, The Stone, Rockwood Music Hall and Pianos, among others. Formerly Principal Pianist for the Mark Morris Dance Group, he is currently Music Director at Barnard College Department of Dance."

-Robert Boston Website (http://robertboston.net/about.html)
3/13/2024

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

"Born in Newark, NJ, Steve Swell has been an active member of the NYC music community since 1975. He has toured and recorded with many artists from mainstreamers such as Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich to so called outsiders as Anthony Braxton, Bill Dixon, Cecil Taylor and William Parker. He has over 40 CDs as a leader or co-leader and is a featured artists on more than 100 other releases. He runs workshops around the world and is a teaching artist in the NYC public school system focusing on special needs children.

Swell has worked on music transcriptions of the Bosavi tribe of New Guinea for MacArthur fellow, Steve Feld in 2000. His CD, "Suite For Players, Listeners and Other Dreamers" (CIMP) ranked number 2 in the 2004 Cadence Readers Poll. He has also received grants from USArtists International in 2006, MCAF (LMCC) awards in 2008 and 2013 and has been commissioned twice on the Interpretations Series at Merkin Hall in 2006 and at Roulette in 2012.

Steve was nominated for Trombonist of the Year 2008 & 2011 by the Jazz Journalists Association, was selected Trombonist of the Year 2008-2010 , 2012 and 2014-2015 by the magazine El Intruso of Argentina and received the 2008 Jubilation Foundation Fellowship Award of the Tides Foundation. Steve has also been selected by the Downbeat Critics Poll in the Trombone category each year from 2010-2016.

Steve is presently a teaching artist through the American Composers Orchestra, Healing Arts Initiative , Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center (Bronx), the Jazz Foundation of America and Leman Manhattan Preparatory School.

Steve was also awarded the 2014 Creative Curricula grant (LMCC) for the project: "Metamorphoses: Modern Mythology in Sound and Words" which was taught in a month long residency at Baruch College Campus High School in Manhattan."

-Steve Swell Website (http://www.steveswell.com/SteveSwellBio.htm)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Brain In A Dish 7:35

2. New Use For Old Neurons 6:30

3. Feed Me! 2:51

4. Just Another Alogism 4:17

5. Tastier Than Oranges 9:25

6. No Heavy Perfumes 2:06

7. How Do You Like Yours? 6:14

8. Fried Or Roasted? 5:36

9. See Our Ad 2:16

10. Trepanation Trepidation 9:17

11. Psychopath In A Church Pew 4:06

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Collective Free Improvsation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings
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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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