Israeli saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer now living in NY in a trio with NY drummer Mike Pride and Chicago/NY bassist Jason Ajemian, technical, lyrical, conceptual, and emotional jazz.
Label: Hopscotch Records Catalog ID: HOP 22 Squidco Product Code: 13586
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2010 Country: USA Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold 3 Panels Recorded by Jim Clouse at Park West Studios, Brooklyn, NY on November 5th, 2009.
"Yoni Kretzmer, newly arrived in NYC, has just produced his second CD, Nevertheless. In it he progresses still further on his unique journey, an emotional and quizzical investigation of naïve melodies with a twist: simple truths skeptically reexamined, which while uncompromisingly intelligent, nonetheless - nevertheless - do not alienate, but rather engage the listener on what is almost an invasively emotional plane. Yoni is a true master of his craft: his music is challenging, never boring, and incredibly personal, almost to the point of voyeurism. A young Israeli avant-garde Jazz saxophonist, he has been described as a passionate and accurate player, with the maturity and depth of a veteran jazz musician.
After his first CD, in which Kretzmer used an almost unlikely arrangement of saxophone, bass, drums, cello and viola, in this CD Kretzmer goes back to basics - giving his own take on the traditional sax-bass-drums trio. Mike and Jason are the ideal sides to this triangle: Mike Pride, despite his sophisticated innovativeness, approaches the drums with a primal intensity, and Jason Ajermian's extravagant bass provides an essential depth to this trio's sound.The CD consists of ten of Kretzmer's minimally planned ideas - whims almost - which provide a conceptual framework for free exploration. The piece entitled 'four notes' is in fact an exploration of exactly that: of four notes. That is all Kretzmer wrote down.
Mike Pride is one of New York's most in-demand drummers, both on the Jazz scene and on the alternative and experimental rock scene alike. He has recorded numerous albums and has played and recorded with Anthony Braxton, William Parker, Sonny Simmons and others. Jason Ajemian is a key figure in both the New York and Chicago Jazz scenes. Ajemian plays both as a leader and as a sideman, and is a part of many significant ensembles such as the Chicago Underground Trio, the Exploding Star Orchestra, and the Art of Dying."-Hopscotch Records