First conceived during the 2016 Forward Festival when noise guitarist Gene Moore and NYC experimental bassist Gene Janas invited noted avant-garde drummer Federico Ughi for the second part of their set, the results being so impressive that they asked saxophonist Paul Flaherty to join them to record this album and to perform at the Forward Festival 2017.
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Sample The Album:
Paul Flaherty-alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Gene Moore-guitar
Gene Janas-bass
Federico Ughi-drums
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Label: 577 Records
Catalog ID: 5801
Squidco Product Code: 25826
Format: LP
Condition: New
Released: 2018
Country: USA
Packaging: LP
Recorded at Wombat Studio in Brooklyn, New York, on May 20th, 2017.
"The idea for this recording was first conceived during the 2016 Forward Festival when Gene Moore, a pioneer of noise guitar playing and bassist Gene Janas, a mainstay of the NYC experimental music scene, invited noted avant-garde drummer Federico Ughi for the second part of their set. This spontaneous collaboration inspired the three musicians to plan a recording, and they decided to involve the legendary sax player Paul Flaherty for the occasion.
The resulting recording is Morfina, and while Flaherty, Moore, and Janas have collaborated extensively in the past, it's the very first time Flaherty and Ughi have ever played together. Janas played with Ughi on a previous 577 Records' album release (People's Resonance, also featuring Daniel Carter, 2008).
The album title Morfina, meaning 'morphine' in Italian, was suggested by Ughi, as the recording session happened only hours after he left the emergency room, where he was treated for a back injury with a strong dose of the substance. Needless to say, while the music may have been influenced by this, it certainly didn't suffer."-577 Records
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Paul Flaherty "Paul Flaherty's total commitment to high-energy free improvisation has kept him deeply buried into the North-East US underground. The alto saxophonist (who later picked up the soprano and tenor sax as well) has been playing privately and self-releasing albums since the late '70s. The increase of interest in free jazz during the 1990s brought him out of his lair, releasing albums on Cadence, Tulpa, Ecstatic Yod, Boxholder, and his own labels (Zaabway, Wet Paint). His highly personal style and brut power can be compared to Peter Brötzmann and Ivo Perelman. Flaherty was born in Hartford, Connecticut on November 6, 1948. He started to learn the saxophone in school at age 10. He played in school bands for six years and then dropped everything, education and music. His brother's amateur Beatles cover band made him realize that music comes from the heart (passion), not the mind (formal training). At the same time he discovered jazz through the radio and began to improvise over jazz records. He gave his first performance at age 23 and briefly played in John Ciffirelli and Gordon Cohen's bands. But his freeform improv was met with harsh reactions so he retracted to private sessions, looking for the right musicians to play with. In 1978 he cut his first LP In the Midst of Chaos with the group Orange (Barry Greika, Bob Laramie, Glen Peterson). His second album came out for years later and featured two guitarists (Froc Fillipetti and Bill Walach). The 1980s was not a gentle decade on free improvisers. Besides stints as a street musician, Flaherty kept quiet, supporting himself as a housepainter. But in 1988 he met drummer Randall Colbourne, thanks to a mutual friend. The two hit it off, building a lasting friendship and partnership. Starting in 1989, they released ten albums of frantic improv, as a duet or with musicians like Mike Murray, Richard Downs, Steve Scholz, and Jim Hunt. The first of them, Endangered Species came out on Cadence, which greatly contributed to establish the saxophonist as a player worth keeping an eye on. The late 1990s saw him diversify his entourage. He has cut strong sessions with drummer Chris Corsano (The Hated Music) and trumpeter Greg Kelley (Sannyasi)." ^ Hide Bio for Paul Flaherty • Show Bio for Gene Moore "Gene Moore: guitar; ^ Hide Bio for Gene Moore • Show Bio for Gene Janas "Gene Janas (bass) (Sept. 24, 1955 - born & raised in Williamsburg, B'klyn) started out in 1975 w/ Screamin' Jay Hawkins & played thru the 70s/80s w/ Tim Berne 4tet, Sedition Ensemble w/ Bern Nix, singer Phoebe Legere etc His 2nd life in music started with Owl Xounds (Wire magazine winner 2005) featuring Arrington de Dionyso, Gene Moore, Darius Jones etc - many performances/recordings incl. Federico Ughi, Daniel Carter, Jeffrey Hayden Shurdut, Thurston Moore, Paul Flaherty etc - since 2009 w/ drummer Marc Edwards' Slipstream Time Travel - recent recordings w/ Cosmic Hallways, Prana-Bindu & Paris-based United Slaves." ^ Hide Bio for Gene Janas • Show Bio for Federico Ughi "Federico Ughi is a drummer and composer based in New York. Federico Ughi's music infuses the New York avant-garde sound with a sense of melody inspired by the Italian classical and folk traditions of his childhood in Rome. Ornette Coleman has been a major influence for Federico as well as a mentor. Born in Rome, Italy Federico relocated to London at age 21 to play music, from there moving to New York in 2000 again to play music. He has been based in Brooklyn, NY ever since. He has performed or recorded with Daniel Carter, William Parker, The Cinematic Orchestra, Blue Foundation among others. Federico Ughi has performed throughout Italy, the UK, France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, Russia, Lithuania, China, Mexico, Canada and the US." ^ Hide Bio for Federico Ughi
11/5/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
1/15/07 - "I Give Up" included on compilation CD, The Big Indie Comeback vol. 3.
6/1/06 - "Life's Divide" included on compilation CD, The Big Indie Comeback vol. 2.
2/8/06 - Performed "virtually" at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy.
2/3/06 - Interviewed live by Matt Sampson on News 12, Westchester news TV.
10/7/05 - Headlined sold-out show at NWCA Theater in Mt. Kisco.
9/1/05 - Finished in top 100 of IMWS 2005 contest (Independent Music World Series).
5/21/05 - Released "I Give Up" CD.
5/2/05 - "Insane" appears on VH-1's Metal Mania.
3/6/05 - Performed at Rock 2 Rebuild (Tsunami Benefit), raised over $10,000 for relief.
1/2/05 - Won the Towne Crier Open Mic Finals.
2/10/01 - Composed and performed US Soccer Federation Stadium Chant.
4/12/00 - Scored the soundtrack for the George W. Bush Presedential Campaign video.
7/6/95 - Scored soundtrack for presidential campaign video for Bob Dole.
5/20/94 - Scored soundtrack for Tom Ridge For Governor campaign video.
6/22/93 - Composed jingle, "You've Got A Friend in Robison Oil."
4/3/92 - Hired as staff music composer at Radioband of America, NYC.
5/20/88 - Composed "Insane," later released as single by Ace Frehley from KISS.
2/20/87 - Performed at Giants Stadium with Restless to 40,000 football fans.
1/20/86 - "Go Giants Go" hits #1 on K-ROCK Countdown for 3 consecutive weeks.
1/2/86 - Sang and recorded NY Giants hit parody, "Go Giants Go." Lyrics by Dan Griffin.
6/10/85 - Appeared in movie, "If Looks Could Kill." Music performance on yatch.
4/20/85 - Creation of Restless. Doug Brown-drums, Greg Fiellin-bass, Steve Avitable-keys.
2/5/83 - Creation of power rock trio, Second Sense. Doug Brown-drums, Al Renino-bass."
11/5/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
11/5/2024
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
SIDE A
1. Morfina 8:30
2. Unlikely S.O.S. 2:00
3. Wild Bat Wild 3:39
4. The Countries 4:39
SIDE B
1. Only I Only 10:29
2. Help Me Think 6:10
3. Beginnings 1:59
Vinyl Recordings
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Quartet Recordings
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