The Squid's Ear Magazine


Mitchell, Matt (w/ Tordini / Weiss): Zealous Angles (Pi Recordings)

The debut album of NY composer & pianist Matt Mitchell's long-running trio with bassist Chris Tordiniand and drummer Dan Weiss, an adventurous and accomplished group that brings an optimistic buoyancy to Mitchell's complex compositions, exploring multiple asynchronous cycles using polyrhythm and polymeter through multiple lines that the players have freedom to choose and improvise around.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Matt Mitchell-piano

Chris Tordini-bass

Dan Weiss-drums


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UPC: 808713010428

Label: Pi Recordings
Catalog ID: PI 103
Squidco Product Code: 35274

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Big Orange Sheep, in Brooklyn, New York, on March 12th, 2024, by Chris Benham, and David Turk and Brenna Nicole.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Zealous Angles is the first documentation of pianist/composer Matt Mitchell's long-running trio featuring bassist Chris Tordiniand drummer Dan Weiss. Pi Recordings' not-so-secret weapon, Mitchell now has six releases as a leader or co-leader and fourteen appearances on the label. His 2024 release Illimitable (on his and Kate Gentile's Obliquity Records) was called "one of greatest albums of spontaneously composed solo piano music, ever.... a masterpiece of twenty-first century solo piano music" by The Free Jazz Collective. His last release on Pi - Snark Horse, co-led with drummer Gentile - was described by Downbeat as "a monumental collection of improvised and composed electro-acoustic music that no matter how wild it gets, never makes anything less than musical sense."

The compositions on Zealous Angles reflect Mitchell's recent interest in multiple asynchronous cycles using polyrhythm and polymeter. The pieces contain anywhere from two to six lines of different lengths, with the performers having the freedom to play any of the lines and also interpret and improvise within and among the material. The result of this divergence is a multifarious sort of rhythmic and textural fluidity in which the possibilities for group exploration and interaction are exponentially expanded. As is always the case with Mitchell's band-leading ethos, all group members are heartily encouraged to bring all of their musical knowledge to bear as they see fit. In the case of the trio with Tordini and Weiss, this approach results in a panoply of spontaneous rhythmic and melodic expression that embraces and celebrates the rich history of the "jazz piano trio" but also evinces a zest for discovering previously uncharted creative spaces.

As Tordini describes the experience: "As with most of Matt's music, there are complex rhythmic ideas, as well as unexpected harmonic and intervallic suggestions, but the nature of this music demands a certain amount of letting go and giving in to however the three of us are putting it all together in the moment. It's a level of trust and a vibe we can achieve that only comes with long-term musical collaboration."

This approach to composition and performance results in many divergent and compelling versions of the pieces. For instance, when choosing takes for the 11 compositions recorded for the album, it was apparent to Mitchell that both takes of "jostler" warranted inclusion on the record: while track 3 "jostler" is a spirited back-and-forth discussion of the three lines comprising the composition, track 10 "rejostled" ventures further afield into more dreamlike and enigmatic spaces. Mitchell then subsequently decided to similarly include alternate iterations of "sponger" ["lunger"], "traipse" ["pre-traipsed"], "cinch" ["synch"], "apical gropes" ["optical gripes"], and "grail automating" ["radial mazing"]. Each of these doppelgŠnger variants reveals alternate universes born of divergent paths. It's a manifestation of three master improvisors simultaneously making countless instantaneous decisions and creating exhilarating music in the process.

In addition to co-leading Snark Horse with Kate Gentile, Mitchell also fronts several ensembles featuring many of the foremost improvisers on the scene, including Kim Cass, Jon Irabagon, Miles Okazaki, Mariel Roberts, Sara Serpa, Sara Schoenbeck, Brandon Seabrook, Ches Smith, and Anna Webber. He is a member of one or more groups led by virtually all of the aforementioned musicians in addition to others by Dan Weiss, Yuhan Su, and Miguel Zenon. He has a longstanding association with Tim Berne, and he plays or has played extensively with Steve Coleman, Ralph Alessi, Dave Douglas, David Binney, John Hollenbeck, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Linda May Han Oh, Jonathan Finlayson, Mario Pavone, Darius Jones, and many others.

The trio of Mitchell, Tordini and Weiss have been playing together for over a decade, and were previously captured on Mitchell's 2015 Pi release Vista Accumulation (with saxophonist Chris Speed). Tordini is one of the most in-demand bassists on the scene, playing regularly with the likes of Becca Stevens, Marta Sanchez, Chris Speed, Caroline Davis, Angelica Niescier, and four critically acclaimed recordings on Pi as a member of drummer Tyshawn Sorey's trio. Weiss is also no stranger to the label, with four boundary-shattering releases as a leader, all also featuring Mitchell. Their shared history is evidenced by the extraordinary level of communication required to bring this music to coherence. Indeed, what was scheduled to be a full-day recording session was surprisingly completed in three hours, a testament to the solidity of their musical bond.

Popmatters has said of Mitchell's music that "there is some daring to every moment." Certainly, Zealous Angles is no exception."-Pi Recordings


Artist Biographies

"Matt Mitchell is a pianist and composer interested in the intersections of various strains of acoustic, electric, composed, and improvised new music. He currently composes for and leads several ensembles featuring many of the current foremost musicians and improvisers, including Tim Berne, Kim Cass, Caroline Davis, Kate Gentile, Ben Gerstein, Sylvaine Hélary, Jon Irabagon, Travis Laplante, Ava Mendoza, Miles Okazaki, Ches Smith, Chris Speed, Tyshawn Sorey, Chris Tordini, Anna Webber, Dan Weiss, and Katie Young.

He is an anchor member of several significant creative music ensembles which integrate composed and improvised music, including Tim Berne's Snakeoil, the Dave Douglas Quintet, John Hollenbeck's Large Ensemble, Rudresh Mahanthappa's Bird Calls, Jonathan Finlayson's Sicilian Defense, Dan Weiss's Large Ensemble, Steve Coleman's Natal Eclipse, the Darius Jones Quartet, Kate Gentile's Mannequins, Mario Pavone's Blue Dialect Trio, Anna Webber's Simple Trio, Ches Smith's We All Break, Michael Attias' Spun Tree, Ohad Talmor's Grand Ensemble, and Quinsin Nachoff's Flux. He is also among the core performers of John Zorn's Bagatelles.

Musicians with whom he performs and has performed include Jon Irabagon, Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth, John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet + 1, JD Allen, Rudresh Mahanthappa and Bunky Green's Apex, Rez Abbasi's Invocation, Lee Konitz, Kenny Wheeler, Ralph Alessi's Baida Quartet, Dave King's Indelicate duo, Amir ElSaffar, Marc Ducret, David Torn, Vernon Reid, Clarence Penn and Penn Station, Linda Oh, Rudy Royston, Allison Miller, Donny McCaslin, Brad Shepik, and Darcy James Argue's Secret Society.

He has taught extensively with the Brooklyn-based School for Improvisational Music, as well as at the New School, NYU, and the Siena Jazz Workshop. He is also a 2015 receipient of a Doris Duke Impact Award and a 2012 recipient of a Pew Fellowship from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage."

-Matt Mitchell Website (http://www.mattmitchell.us/bio/)
11/8/2024

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

"Christopher Tordini is an in-demand bassist on the New York City music scene, where he performs with established jazz icons as well as a diverse range of emerging musicians. He has toured and recorded with Andy Milne's Dapp Theory for over 5 years, and has also played in bands led by other renowned artists such as Greg Osby and Jeremy Pelt. Tordini plays often with drummer Ari Hoenig, with the Becca Stevens Band, and is a key collaborator in projects led by drummer/composer Tyshawn Sorey and trombonist/composer Michael Dessen. A graduate of the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Tordini forged strong professional relationships with several faculty members there, including Rory Stuart and George Garzone, with whom he continues to collaborate. Recently, Tordini has performed and recorded with prominent bandleaders such as Steve Lehman, Okkyung Lee, Tigran Hamasyan, Jo-Yu Chen, Mike Pinto, Andrew D'Angelo, Jim Black, and Yaron Herman. He has played at New York City's most prestigious jazz venues, including the Blue Note, the Village Vanguard, the Iridium, the Jazz Standard, Smalls, the Jazz Gallery and the Stone, among many others."

-Home Gift of Music (http://www.homegiftofmusic.com/christopher-tordini/)
11/8/2024

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

"Shifting Foundation grantee Dan Weiss has been hailed as one of the top five jazz drummers in The New York Times, and his large ensemble recording "Fourteen" made the top ten list of their best recordings of 2014. Weiss's innovative drumming and forward thinking compositions have been pushing musical limits for years.

With his piano trio, he's released two recordings entitled, "Now Yes When" (2006) and "Timshel" (2011), which have been critically acclaimed for their unique approach to song structure and endless creative improvisation. Weiss also leads his sixteen piece large ensemble that features some of NYC's most gifted musicians. The two albums " Fourteen" (2014) and "Sixteen: Drummers Suite" (2016) released on the Pi record label have made numerous critic polls. His newest project features Craig Taborn, Matt Mitchell, Ben Monder, and Trevor Dunn and is an amalgam of jazz, metal, and new music. The recording will be released on the Pi record label in the Spring of 2018.

Weiss has been studying tabla under Pandit Samir Chatterjee for twenty years. He has performed with the legendary Ashish Khan and Ramesh Misra and recorded a solo tabla cd "3dcd" (2007). Weiss recorded two groundbreaking cds "Teental Drumset Solo" (2005) and "Jhaptal Drumset Solo" (2011) where he performs classical Indian repertoire on drum set.

Weiss was named 'The Top Up and Coming Percussionist' 2 years in a row in the 60th and 61st annual Downbeat's Critic's Poll and earned a spot in Modern Drummer's coveted Top 5 Jazz Drummers of 2014."

-Dan Weiss Website (https://www.danweiss.net/about-1/)
11/8/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Sponger 4:10

2. Apace 3:05

3. Jostler 3:08

4. Angled Languor 6:42

5. Rapacious 4:30

6. Zeal 10:10

7. Traipse 3:34

8. Cinch 2:51

9. Apical Gropes 3:43

10. Rejostled 4:05

11. Grail Automating 3:23

12. Gauzy 8:39

13. Lunger 3:56

14. Pre-Traipsed 3:25

15. Synch 2:59

16. Optical Gripes 3:31

17. Radial Mazing 3:20

Related Categories of Interest:


Pi Records
Improvised Music
Jazz
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings
Piano Trio (Piano Bass Drums)
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Recent Releases and Best Sellers
New in Improvised Music

Search for other titles on the label:
Pi Recordings.


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