The Squid's Ear Magazine


Butcher, John / Phil Durrant / John Russell: The Scenic Route (Emanem)

1999 release of the trio of John Butcher on soprano & tenor sax, Phil Durrant on violin, and John Russell on guitar, meticulous improvisation using outrageous technique, "unorthodox thematic development and off-center interplay which at times is odd and surreal".
 

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product information:

Personnel:



John Butcher-soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Phil Durrant-violin

John Russell-guitar


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UPC: 503243402922

Label: Emanem
Catalog ID: 4029
Squidco Product Code: 18408

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 1999
Country: Great Britain
Packaging: Jewel Case
1-4 by Studio CCAM: Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy (Centre Culturel Andre Malraux) May 22nd, 1998 at Musique Action '98 (15th season)

5 by Emanem: London (Red Rose) March 15th, 1998 at a Mopomoso monthly concert

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The opener, "Heavy Merge" commences as if three scientists were meticulously crafting an intricate Swiss watch. On this piece the musicians enact clever and cunning dialogue in workmanlike fashion. The delicate transformation of unusual sounds from common unaltered instruments seems astonishing. On "Belayed", further evidence of how these gentlemen coalesce as a band is heard through unorthodox thematic development and off-center interplay which at times is odd and surreal. The liners indicate..."All instruments used without amplification or other electronics". The tour-de-force is the 22-minute piece titled, "Climate Change". Here, Russell and Durrant pluck their stringed instruments in mechanistic fashion utilizing all registers while churning out generous doses of harmonics. The feel is purposely tense or expresses uneasiness. John Butcher's amazing Soprano and Tenor Sax work is the glue yet provides the contrast as Russell and Durrant offset Butcher's often circular or in manyinstances abrupt phraseology. The Scenic Route epitomizes the ceaseless creative spirit and artistic invention or perhaps "reinvention" of the British Free Jazz movement. Here, three proven masters of modern music take the listener on a mystical yet brisk expedition, complete with all the peaks and valleys. Highly Recommended!"-Glenn Astarita, allabouyjazz.com



This album has been reviewed on our magazine:

The Squid
The Squid's Ear!

Artist Biographies

"John Butcher's work ranges through improvisation, his own compositions, multitracked pieces and explorations with feedback and extreme acoustics.Originally a physicist, he left academia in '82, and has since collaborated with hundreds of musicians - Derek Bailey, John Tilbury, John Stevens, The EX, Akio Suzuki, Gerry Hemingway, Polwechsel, Gino Robair, Rhodri Davies, Okkyung Lee, John Edwards, Toshi Nakamura, Paul Lovens, Eddie Prevost, Mark Sanders, Christian Marclay, Otomo Yoshihide, Phil Minton, and Andy Moor - to name a few.

He is well known as a solo performer who attempts to engage with the uniqueness of place. Resonant Spaces is a collection of site-specific performances collected during a tour of unusual locations in Scotland and the Orkney Islands.His first solo album, Thirteen Friendly Numbers, includes compositions for multitracked saxophones, whilst later solo CDs focus on live performance, composition, amplification and saxophone-controlled feedback.

HCMF has twice commissioned him to compose for his own large ensembles. Other commissions include for Elision (Australia), the Rova (USA) & Quasar (Canada) Saxophone Quartets, reconstructed Futurist Intonarumori (USA), "Tarab Cuts" (based on pre-WWII Arabic recordings, and shortlisted for the 2014 British Composer's Award) and "Good Liquor .." for the London Sinfonietta. In 2011 he received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists.

Recent groupings include The Apophonics with Robair and Edwards, Anemone with Peter Evans, Plume with Tony Buck & Magda Mayas and a trio with Okkyung Lee & Mark Sanders.Butcher values playing in occasional encounters - ranging from large groups such as Butch Morris' London Skyscraper and the EX Orkestra, to duo concerts with David Toop, Kevin Drumm, Claudia Binder, Paal Nilssen-Love, Thomas Lehn, Fred Frith, Keiji Haino, Ute Kangeisser, Matthew Shipp and Yuji Takahashi."

-John Butcher Website (http://www.johnbutcher.org.uk/Biog.html)
10/2/2024

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

"Phil Durrant. Born 1957; software synth/sampler, live electronics and acoustic violin.

Phil Durrant studied classical violin and piano at the London College Of Music. Since 1977 he has been a freelance musician, improviser and composer. He has performed at festivals all over Europe, U.S.A and Canada and has had his music broadcast on radio and television in many countries.

Current electronic projects include Ticklish, Secret Measures (with John Butcher), Lunge (with Gail Brand, Pat Thomas and Mark Sanders) and the international electronic orchestra, Mimeo. He also plays violin in Assumed Possibilities (with Chris Burn, Rhodri Davies and Mark Wastell), "Beinhaltung", a trio with Radu Malfatti and Thomas Lehn another trio with Berlin musicians, Burkhard Beins and Ignaz Schick, and the string quartet Quatuor Accorde, with Tony Wren, Charlotte Hug and Mark Wastell. Durrant has also played in the very influential trio with John Butcher and John Russell, as well as the Chris Burn Ensemble.

During his career he has played with many creative and important musicians, including: Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Grooverider, Shut up and Dance, John Zorn, Phil Minton, and Tom Cora. He has also been awarded various Arts Council grants to research and develop his use of electronics. Two current duo projects - at early 2001 - were: Durrant, violin and software synth/sampler with Wade Matthews, bass clarinet, alto flute; and Durrant software synth/sampler with Mark Sanders drums and sequenced samples.

Phil Durrant has also been collaborating and composing music for a wide variety of choreographers. These include PLastic chill, In the face of a stranger and Deja deux with Maxine Doyle; Salome, Concrete and On stage with Susanne Thomas; Partial site, near view and Delay for five with Gill Clarke; Future perfekt with Ana Sanchez-Colberg; and Borderlander and Home zone with Sophia Lycouris. Salome, Concrete and Partial site, near view were site-specific and involved speaker systems in a number of different rooms. He recently wrote the music for a new play by Nick Sutton called Home movies."

-European Free Improv (EFI) (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/musician/mdurrant.html)
10/2/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Heavy Merge 19:57

2. Belayed 13:17

3. Buffet Balls 5:01

4. Beyond Headlines 7:06

5. Climate Change 22:02

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Trio Recordings
John Butcher
EMANEM & psi
Instant Rewards

Search for other titles on the label:
Emanem.


Recommended & Related Releases:
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