The Squid's Ear Magazine


Fox, Danny: Wide Eyed [VINYL] (Hot Cup Records)

Pianist Danny Fox's trio with bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest and drummer Max Goldman in an album showing how the tight rapport this touring band has developed on the road, performing Fox's melodic and inventive compositions with a wealth of influences and style.
 

Price: $21.95


Quantity:

Out of Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 23.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Danny Fox-piano

Chris van Voorst van Beest-bass

Max Goldman-drums


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




UPC: B00JJRMKZS

Label: Hot Cup Records
Catalog ID: Hot Cup 133
Squidco Product Code: 19049

Format: LP
Condition: New
Released: 2014
Country: USA
Packaging: Vinyl LP in a cardstock sleeve
Recorded on October 27th and 28th, 2012 at Peter Karl Studios in Brooklyn, New York, by Micheal Perez-Cisneros.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Formed in 2008, the Danny Fox Trio, featuring pianist Danny Fox, bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest, and drummer Max Goldman, is a true working band. Whether holed up in a Queens basement rehearsing or touring around the country crammed into a sedan, the trio has spent countless hours developing a rapport that's immediately palpable in their music.

This chemistry not only contributes to the precision of their performances, but allows each member to feel confident enough to take musical risks. This contrast between cohesive, cogent ensemble execution and the excitement of spontaneous improvisation adds an energy that is sorely lacking in much of today's music, regardless of genre. Though rooted in jazz, the three versatile musicians are also active in chamber music, bluegrass, afrobeat, electro, and New Orleans funk, thereby giving the band a sound that is all-encompassing yet strikingly individual.

Drawing on influences as varied as Ellington, Bartok, The Meters, and Bernard Herrmann, the music can switch gears at any moment yet remains cohesive thanks to strong motivic development and rigorous arrangements that challenge the traditional roles of the piano trio instruments. Having committed these intricate and challenging compositions to memory and performed them scores of times, the influence and esthetic of rock bands is readily appreciated. The trio explores a wide range of novel techniques to eschew standard forms and roles. The piano, typically both the lead melodic and harmonic voice, rarely performs these two roles simultaneously. Instead, Fox opts for textures that feature the abilities of his band mates and explore the more extreme ranges of the piano.

In addition to fulfilling the traditional role as rhythmic anchor, bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest provides melodies, counterpoint, and coloristic arco effects adeptly. Drummer Max Goldman employs traditional drumbeats effectively, but often opts for a more orchestral approach, mimickingsymphonic playing. The compositions themselves feature extensive melodic and motivic development, sometimes hovering around a theme that is only a few notes long, and sometimes building phrases over time to great emotional heights. The eleven pieces on Wide Eyed navigate through a vast array of grooves, harmonies, time signatures, tempo shifts, free improvisations, and dynamics while always remaining grounded in the thematic material, giving the music a seamlessness and cohesion such that it is both challenging and highly listenable.

The album opens with the insistent bass groove of "Sterling", which the trio unfolds in unexpected ways: from the slippery, danceable odd meter rhythm of the opening melody to the introspective rubato bass melody and jagged drum punctuations that follow. The song exemplifies the motivic style of composition as the opening six-note theme is modified through new harmonies, tempi, and instrumentation to spin out sections of varied moods. This theme is sometimes front and center and other times lurking, as when the left hand of the piano plays a fast version of it under dense minor chords. "Bonkers", written by Fox while going mad from practicing music for a circus, is a meeting of Prokofiev-like melody, African rhythm, and free improvisation.

"All Tolled", an epic piece spun out of a pencil accidentally tapping a rhythm on a desk, shows the trio's range from ferocious bombast to tender lullaby and spotlights the group's creative use of their instruments, as in the introduction where the piano plays on the extreme high and low registers as a background for the bass melody. Throughout, Goldman displays his well-rounded approach to the drum kit, sometimes laying down specific beats and other times mimicking orchestral percussion.

The bluegrass- inspired "Drone" shows the trio's playful side and the influence of Fox's second instrument: banjo. The subdued title track Wide Eyed opens with a moody cinematic simmer before piano/bass counterpoint explores rich harmonic dissonances. Confederates is a sinister march with ecstatic jolts, followed by "Short Al in Brooklyn", a deceivingly tricky rhythmic proposition disguised as a light-hearted swinger, written for a famous NYC sports talk radio caller. "Patriot Daze" and "Punches" show Fox's heavy classical influence, using both hands to equal effect, and the trio's adept use of dynamics.

"Funhouse Memory" filters funk through a funhouse mirror with off-kilter rhythms and spooky chords. The wildly-phrased canon seems to come out of nowhere but derives simply from the first theme stated in the piece. The album closes with the chamber-like "Tumble Quiet", written against the backdrop of a faint clothes dryer in a quiet house, which floats from ethereal chords toward thumping tribal grooves before reaching a plaintive calm. The bass moves seamlessly between contrapuntal melodies and earthy bassline ostinatos. "Wide Eyed" is about inhabiting a state of wonder and surprise about the world around us. It's about searching for possibility and embracing new ideas all while taking inspiration from what you've already taken in."-Hot Cup

Also available on CD.


Artist Biographies

"Pianist Danny Fox was born in New York City where he became immersed in the jazz scene from an early age. In high school, Danny was selected as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts and went on to attend Harvard University during which time he became active in the Boston music scene. He formed the Danny Fox Trio in 2008 as a vehicle for his original compositions and since then the working group has performed steadily around NYC and the US, releasing the critically acclaimed albums The One Constant (Songlines) and Wide Eyed (Hot Cup).

Called a "pianist of diverse accomplishment" (NY Times), Danny has established himself as a versatile musician active in a wide variety of settings, co-founding the New Orleans rock and roll group Tubby, playing around the fertile Brooklyn roots and bluegrass scene, performing on Broadway, and collaborating with the cutting edge video artist Meghan Allynn Johnson. He has performed with artists as diverse as Bruce Springsteen, Cassandra Wilson, Michael Blake, and Kermit Driscoll."

-Danny Fox Website (http://www.dannyfoxmusic.com/)
10/2/2024

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

"Max Goldman was born in Rochester, New York. He quickly found his love for music and the drums in particular when In 3rd grade his band instructor gave a quick demonstration of each instrument, once the first snare roll was played there was absolutely no question as to which instrument he would play. Through his teen years Max studied with Jeff Lewis, Steve Curry and Eastman School of Music professor Rich Thompson and was awarded the top All County Drum Chair as well as his high school's Louis Armstrong Award for Jazz Performance.

In 2001 Max moved to New York where he attended New York University for 2 years and The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music for the remaining 2 years, with a scholarship, where he was awarded his BFA. During that time Max studied with Tony Moreno, Gerald Cleaver and Kenny Washington.

Max has since made a living as a freelance musician, touring regularly around Europe, Russia and the United States in addition to appearing regularly in some of New York City's top venues in both the jazz and popular music worlds with projects such as, The Elan Mehler Group, The Danny Fox Trio, Old Time Musketry, Tim Berne, Midnight Magic and Aella and has recorded and shared the stage with many artists, including, Becca Stevens, Chris Tordini, Travis Reuter, Curtis Macdonald, Nomi Ruiz, Eleanor Friedberger, and for the new masters of Sesame Street composer, Joe Raposo's songs.

Teaching is a big part of Max's life in the city, in addition to many private students he is a teacher at the Long Island Drum Center, Big Wrench Music, and for CUNY's Harmony Program. In the past Max has taught at Montclair State College's Stokes Summer Camp, for the YMHA and has performed many clinics for high schools and colleges around the country."

-Max Goldman Website (http://www.regaltip.com/artist-roster/max-goldman)
10/2/2024

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


Track Listing:



SIDE A

1. Sterling 6:58

2. Bonkers 6:02

3. All Tolled 7:40

SIDE B

1. Drone 4:05

2. Wide Eyed 4:37

3. Funhouse Memory 6:10

11. Tumble Quiet 7:45

Related Categories of Interest:


Vinyl Recordings
Improvised Music
Jazz
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings
Piano Trio (Piano Bass Drums)
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions

Search for other titles on the label:
Hot Cup Records.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Other Recommended Releases:
Fox, Danny
Wide Eyed
(Hot Cup Records)
Pianist Danny Fox's trio with bassist Chris van Voorst van Beest and drummer Max Goldman in an album showing how the tight rapport this touring band has developed on the road, performing Fox's melodic and inventive compositions with a wealth of influences and style.
Mostly Other People Do the Killing
Slippery Rock
(Hot Cup Records)
Claiming to have been inspired by smooth jazz, the 6th MOPDTK album is a remarkable achievement of forward-thinking free jazz with a bizarre sense of humor and an irresistible love of poking fun at form while simultaneously paying homage.



Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
Rivers, Sam Quartet (feat. Jerry Byrd / Rael Wesley Grant / Steve Ellington)
Archive series. Volume 5 - Undulation
(NoBusiness)
During the early 80s saxophonist and wind improviser Sam Rivers formed his quartet around electric instruments, with the core rhythm section of drummer Steve Ellington and electric bass guitarist Rael Wesley Grant, the other lead instrument on guitar during that time, sometimes with Kevin Eubanks, and on this previously unreleased, superb live performance in Florence, Italy, guitarist Jerry Byrd.
Ikeda / Prevost
The Whole Moon Rests in a Dewdrop on the Grass
(Matchless)
Performing live at Cafe OTO in London, 2018, Japanese sound artist and composer Ken Ikeda comes together with percussionist and Matchless label-leader Eddie Prevost for a concert of resonant, rich improvisation, Ikeda's electronics complementing Prevost's bowed cymbals as the duo builds to a diverse offering of powerful yet controlled sonic uproar; stunning.
La Casa, Eric
AIR.ratio
(Swarming)
Reissuing La Casa's 2006 album of ventilation systems, which started with a bathroom vent and expanded to a sonic exploration of aeraulic devices and air flows in Paris buildings of various ages and dimensions, documenting their sonic and musical qualities, functioning as a sound study, a sonic data bank, a CD of environments, and finally as music.
Wolfarth, Christian
Spuren [VINYL]
(Hiddenbell Records)
The two parts of "Spuren" from Swiss percussionist Christian Wolfarth cover each side in an album of concentrative timbre and strategy, evoking continuous sounds that are diverted into unexpected avenues, drawing the listener into trance-like states with rich resonance, tone, and malleable rhythms, then surprising with unforseen audio twists.
Archer / Clark / Grew / Hunter
Felicity's Ultimatum
(Discus)
The 2nd release in a new series of small groups drawn from members of the Discus Music family, where the group meets, writes, rehearses and records in one single session, here developing ten compositions from all four players edited into a continuous sequence of structure and improvisation, embracing melody, texture and pure abstraction.
Architek Percussion
Metatron
(Ambiances Magnetiques)
The Architek Percussion ensemble is a Montreal quartet performing works by Canadian composers, using percussion, drums, sampling, electronics and synth in wonderfully odd ways, here with two guest performers presenting works composed and mixed by Elliot Britton.
Quatuor Bozzini
Christopher Butterfield: Trip
(Collection QB)
Montreal's Quatuor Bozzini string quartet worked with composer Christopher Butterfield, who wrote two of these pieces ("Trip" and "Fall") specifically for QB, alongside three other works from 20 years of composing that use unusual instructions and scores for the performers.
Paul, Leah
We Will Do The Worrying
(Skirl)
LA flutist Leah Paul began these works as through-composed chamber pieces, with lyrical content evolving as each song took shape, performed in a hybrid band of improvisers and chamber players with Afton Hefley singing about meditation of dreams and childhood memories.
Dunmall, Paul / Phillip Gibbs
Electrosonics
(FMR)
An album of improvised electronics from frequent collaborators Paul Dunmall on a Yamaha WX11 electronic wind instrument, and Philip Gibbs performing on electric guitar, in 9-parts exploring the unusual tonalities in both expansive and highly technical approaches.
Wooley, Nate
Argonautica
(Firehouse 12 Records)
Trumpeter Nate Wooley's major 3-part work makes oblique reference to dodecaphony, ambient tape music, and the minimalist rock of Terry Riley, conceived as a tribute to Wooley's mentor Ron Miles, who performs alongside Devin Gray & Rudy Royston (drums), Cory Smythe & Jozef Dumoulin (piano).
resAUnance
Migration
(FMR)
The debut album by the chamber-jazz quartet resAUnance of Jonathan Golove on electric cello, Michael McNeill on piano, John Bacon on vibraphone and percussion, and Esin Gunduz on voice, blending compositional, improvisation, & Turkish folk music into passionate and beautiful works.
Pavone, Jessica
Silent Spills
(Relative Pitch)
Using viola, effects, and on one track, voice, New York improviser and Anthony Braxton ensemble member Jessica Pavone presents a uniquely voiced solo album, approaching the instrument through simple means that become increasingly twisted and unforseen as they advance.
Bennett / Johnston / Mezzacappa / Rosaly
Shipwreck 4
(NoBusiness)
Named for Shipwreck Studios, this is the first meeting between San Francisco Bay Area improvisers Darren Johnston (trumpet), Aaron Bennett (sax) and Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) with Chicago drummer Frank Rosaly, for 6 tracks of outstanding interactive and playful improvisation.
Steve Swell Quintet (Swell / Moondoc / Burrell / W. Parker / Cleaver)
Soul Travelers [VINYL + DOWNLOAD]
(RogueArt)
A great set of Downtown NY players led by trombonist Steve Swell, with Jemeel Moondoc on alto sax, Dave Burrell on piano, William Parker on double bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums, a heartfelt and masterfully soulful album of excellent modern jazz in a limited LP.
Rara Avis (Ken Vandermark / Stefano Ferrian / Simone Quatrana / Luca Pissavini / Sec)
Rara Avis
(Not Two)
Chicago multi-reedist Ken Vandermark in a quintet with Italian musicians Stefano Ferrian (tenor saxophone), Simone Quatrana (piano), Luca Pissavini (double bass), and SEC_ (Revox tape recorder, instant sound treatment) in an uninhibited live concert in 2013 at Dragon Club in Poland.
Davis, Anthony / Paul Plimley / Al Neil / John Kameel Farah
Past Piano Present | Live at Western Front 1985 - 2015 [VINYL LP with DOWNLOAD]
(Western Front New Music)
Four innovative and creative pianists performing solo at the Western Front between 1985 and 2015--Anthony Davis, Paul Plimley, Al Neil, John Kameel Farah--compiled on this extraordinary LP, the 2nd essential archive from one of Canada's most important performance spaces.
Lexer, Sebastian / Steve Noble
Muddy Ditch
(Fataka)
Two live sets of exemplary improvisation: the first revelatory encounter of pianist Sebastian Lexer and drummer/percussionist Steve Noble from 2011, and a more considered and spacious meeting in 2014, both from London's Cafe OTO.
Bardeau / Couratier / Lecinte / Lemaire
Quaturo Machaut
(Ayler)
Taking their name from composer Guillaume de Machaut, Quentin Biardeau directs his saxophone quartet as they reinterpret his 1365 polyphonic mass "Messe de Nostre Dame", using the resonance of the the Abbey of Noirlac, France to enhance these beautifully paced compositions.
Helary, Sylvaine
Spring Roll / Printemps [2 CDs]
(Ayler)
A hybrid of theater, music, sound poetry and political manifesto from Sylvaine Helary, focused on the "Arab Spring" in Egypt, using intertwining words and voices around the quartet performances of Hugues Mayot, Sylvain Lemetre, Antonin Rayon and Sylvaine Helary.
Bosetti, Alessandro / Chris Abrahams
A Heart That Responds From Schooling
(Unsounds)
The 2nd release from Italian composer/performer Alessandro Bosetti and Australian pianist Chris Abrahams (The Necks), a very intimate album of sonic explorations that spans improvised fragments and original renditions of compositions like Steve Lacy's "Esteem" with Bosetti's lyrics.
Sandstrom, Nisse Quintet
Live at Crescendo
(Moserobie Music)
A live recording of lyrical post-bop jazz from Swedish legend, tenor saxophnoist Nisse Standstrom, in a live recording from 2014 fronting a quintet of creative players Jonas Kullhammar on tenor sax, Leio Lindberg on piano, Kenji Rabson on bass, and Moussa Fadera on drums.
Daniel, Sylvain / Gregoire Galichet / Matthieu Metzger
Killing Spree
(Ayler)
Saxophonist Matthieu Metzger takes us on the dark side in a "Killing Spree" with electric bassist Sylvain Daniel and drummer Gregoire Galichet, 9 pieces of demanding improvisation that share a Naked City or Court of the Crimson King energy fueled by awesome technical prowess.
Sleeping in Vilna (Ladd / Robinson / Randall / Rothbrust)
Why Waste Time
(Ayler)
An all-improvised transnational collaboration recorded in the studio and live at Les Instants Chavires in France, between Mike Ladd (vocals/synthi), Carol Robinson (clarinets/voice), Dave Randall (guitar) and Dirk Rothbrust (drum/percussion).
Teller, Jorgen
Delete Nature
(Ninth World)
Solos for triggered guitar from midi and effects guitarist Jorgen Teller, 15 complex and conceptual works that balance clean and noisy guitar work in perplexing ways.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC