The Squid's Ear Magazine


Rempis / Baker / Abrams / Ra: SCYLLA (Aerophonic)

Joining the Chicago ensemble of Dave Rempis on alto, tenor & baritone saxophones, bassist Joshua Abrams and drummer/percussionist Avreeayl Ra is pianist & synth player Jim Baker, performing at Elastic Arts in July 2021 as the venue reopened after pandemic shutdowns, the significance clear in the spiritual power and inspired performances of all 4 players.
 

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Personnel:



Dave Rempis-alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone

Jim Baker-piano, synthesizer

Joshua Abrams-bass

Avreeayl Ra-drums, percussion


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UPC: 769947425108

Label: Aerophonic
Catalog ID: AR035
Squidco Product Code: 32051

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2022
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Elastic Arts in Chicago, Illinois, on July 8th, 2021, by Bill Harris.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"This fourth record by the long-standing improvising ensemble Rempis/Abramsa, and the third featuring now-regular band member Jim Baker, was recorded in a watershed moment for these musicians during a pandemic that had gutted lives across the planet. After 15 months of being closed to the public, the band's home base Elastic Arts had re-opened for live events. And a

"This fourth record by the long-standing improvising ensemble Rempis/Abrams/Ra, and the third featuring now-regular band member Jim Baker, was recorded in a watershed moment for these musicians during a pandemic that had gutted lives across the planet. After 15 months of being closed to the public, the band's home base Elastic Arts had re-opened for live events. And Rempis decided to relaunch his weekly Thursday-night concert series, a hub of the Chicago scene since 2002, with a performance by this working quartet.

So while the music presented on Scylla documents the first sounds this longstanding group had made together in all that time, it also documents a moment with broader significance. An entire community of musicians, fans, and friends whose deep roots intertwine through decades of the rich history of jazz and improvised music in Chicago came together again to bear witness. And through that union, they began as a community to process the sense of loss, and the isolation that had devastated so many lives. That searing mix of bright sunlight and profound darkness dominated the room as the band hit their first downbeat that night. And these masterful improvisers delved deep into that ineffable energy through pure sound in a way that words never could.

The weight of that evening comes to the fore on the very first track - "Survivors". The title is taken from Ra's spoken dedication during this short solo mbira piece, "This is for all the survivors." (You can faintly hear an audience member somberly respond "Amen.") This piece was in fact a coda to the concert, spontaneously tacked on by Ra after the final piece seemed to have concluded. For the recording, its weight and poignancy made it the perfect opener to set the tone for two longer improvisations that probe every corner of the emotional depths that Ra's dedication brings to the fore.

Although the exuberance and hope of that night in July 2021 was soon to be diminished by the realization that the pandemic was not yet over, this concert inspired those who heard it to continue with their patience and resilience in the face of these brutal times. For the musicians, and for the locally-based community who supports their work, this was a night that will live on for ages."-Aerophonic Records

decided to relaunch his weekly Thursday-night concert series, a hub of the Chicago scene since 2002, with a performance by this working quartet. So while the music presented on Scylla documents the first sounds this longstanding group had made together in all that time, it also documents a moment with broader significance. An entire community of musicians, fans, and friends whose deep roots intertwine through decades of the rich history of jazz and improvised music in Chicago came together again to bear witness. And through that union, they began as a community to process the sense of loss, and the isolation that had devastated so many lives. That searing mix of bright sunlight and profound darkness dominated the room as the band hit their first downbeat that night. And these masterful improvisers delved deep into that ineffable energy through pure sound in a way that words never could. The weight of that evening comes to the fore on the very first track - Survivors. The title is taken from Ra's spoken dedication during this short solo mbira piece, "This is for all the survivors." (You can faintly hear an audience member somberly respond "Amen.") This piece was in fact a coda to the concert, spontaneously tacked on by Ra after the final piece seemed to have concluded. For the recording, its weight and poignancy made it the perfect opener to set the tone for two longer improvisations that probe every corner of the emotional depths that Ra's dedication brings to the fore. Although the exuberance and hope of that night in July 2021 was soon to be diminished by the realizationthat the pandemic was not yet over, this concert inspired those who heard it to continue with their patience and resilience in the face of these brutal times. For the musicians, and for the locally-based community who supports their work, this was a night that will live on for ages."-Aerophonic


Artist Biographies

"Dave Rempis was born in Wellesley, Massachusetts on March 24th, 1975. He began his musical studies at the age of 8, inspired by a family friend who played clarinet in local Greek bands, and by Zoot, of the Muppets Band, to pick up saxophone. During high school he performed in his town, district, and all-state bands and wind ensembles, as well as in a jazz combo at a local music school.

In 1993, Rempis began a degree in classical saxophone at Northwestern University with Frederick Hemke. Finding this environment stifling, Rempis quickly ditched the music degree to pursue studies in anthropology and ethnomusicology. As part of these studies, he spent a year at the International Centre for African Music and Dance at the University of Ghana, Legon, studying African music and ethnomusicology. He also continued to perform with many different types of groups, ranging from highlife and reggae bands while in Ghana, to jazz, free jazz, funk, and contemporary music ensembles at home. He graduated from Northwestern in 1997.

Upon graduating, Rempis decided to focus on performing, and in March of 1998 at the age of 22 was asked to replace veteran saxophonist Mars Williams in the well-known Chicago jazz outfit The Vandermark Five. This opportunity catapulted him to notoriety as he began to tour regularly throughout the US and Europe playing clubs, concert halls, and festivals on both continents.

During his tenure with The Vandermark Five, Rempis also began to develop the many Chicago-based groups and international collaborations for which he's currently known, including The Rempis Percussion Quartet, The Engines, Ballister, Rempis/Abrams/Ra, Wheelhouse, The Rempis/Rosaly Duo, and The Rempis/Daisy Duo. Many of these groups have been documented on the Okkadisk, 482 Music, Not Two, Clean Feed, Solitaire, and Utech record labels. Past collaborations have included performances with Paul Lytton, Axel Dörner, Peter Brötzmann, Hamid Drake, Steve Swell, John Tchicai, Roscoe Mitchell, Fred Anderson, Kevin Drumm, Paal Nilssen-Love, Nels Cline, Tony Buck, and Joe McPhee. Rempis has been named regularly since 2006 in the annual Downbeat Critics's Poll as a "rising star" on alto saxophone, and as a "rising star" and "established talent" on baritone saxophone.

Aside from performing, Rempis is also active as a presenter. Since 2002, he's curated a weekly Thursday-night concert series for the Elastic Arts Foundation. The series has featured over 500 concerts by some of the best improvisers from around the world, while maintaining a focus on up-and-coming local musicians. In late 2005, Rempis helped form the presenters' collective Umbrella Music, working with a small group of musicians and presenters in Chicago to provide better playing opportunities for creative and improvising musicians. As part of this group, he organized the annual Umbrella Music Festival from 2006-2014.

Rempis is also one of the main organizers of the indie-rock Pitchfork Music Festival, a 60,000-person event which takes place in Chicago's Union Park every July."

-Dave Rempis Website (http://daverempis.com/bio/)
3/13/2024

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

"Jim Baker was born in Chicago a number of years ago and has been playing in and around Chicago and elsewhere in the world for a few decades, mostly on piano and analog synthesizer; mostly in improvisational contexts; in situations involving, amongst others, Fred Anderson, Ken Vandermark, Michael Zerang, Mars Williams, Brian Sandstrom, Steve Hunt, Edward WIlkerson Jr, David Boykin, Rob Mazurek, Guillermo Gregorio, Nicole Mitchell, Vincent Davis, the Thing XXL, Tortoise, Dave Rempis, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Paul Hartsaw, Janet Bean, Damon Short, and numerous others.

For a number of years, Mr Baker was the house pianist at the weekly jam sessions at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge; and for most of the past decade, has played weekly with the improvising quartet Extraordinary Popular Delusions (the other three Delusions: Messrs. Williams, Sandstrom, & Hunt) , who currently play nearly every monday night at Beat Kitchen in Chicago."

-Milk Factory Productions (http://www.milkfactoryproductions.com/Jim_Baker.html)
3/13/2024

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

"Bassist, Composer Joshua Abrams has been in the thick of Chicago's vibrant music scene for fifteen years, playing & recording as leader & sideman in projects across the genres. he co-founded the "back porch minimalist" band town & country (thrill jockey/box media) & with Matana Roberts & Chad Taylor the trio sticks & stones (thrill jockety/482 music). He has released four records under his own name as well as two under the moniker "reminder" that navigate the realms of jazz & improvisation, electro-acoustic composition, beatmaking, minimalism and field recordings (eremite/delmark/eastern developments/lucky kitchen). He has appeared on over 50 recordings including records by Fred Anderson, Hamid Drake & Bindu, Bonny "prince" Billy, Nicole Mitchell Black Earth Ensemble and Black Earth Strings, Sam Prekop, Mike Reed's Loose Assembly, Ernest Dawkins Chicago 12, Savath & Savalis, Prefuse 73, Rhys Chatham, Rob Mazurek, Tortoise, the Roots, Edith Frost, Mia Doi Todd, Diverse, Joan of Arc, Lorren Mazzacane Connors, David Grubbs, David Boykin, Chris Conelly, & the Cairo Gang. He has performed with Roscoe Mitchell, Bill Dixon, Von Freeman, Fred Anderson trio, John Tchicai, the Exploding Star Orchestra, Henry Grimes, Axel Dorner, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Peter Evans, Damo Suzuki, Wilbert de Joode, Jandek, Walter Wierbos, Tony Conrad, Bobby Broom, Sean Bergin, Nate Wooley, Craig Taborn, David Stakenas, Fred Hopkins, Rhys Chatham, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Neil Michael Hagerty, Lin Halliday, Raymond Strid, Douglas Ewart, Toumani Diabate, the Chicago Underground Orchestra, Ron Dewar, Baby d, Kevin Drumm, Terry x, Frederick Lvunquist, Jim o'Rourke, Kurt Vonnegut, & Earle Brown. When in chicago he plays weekly with Jeff Parker and John Herndon."

-Nicole Mitchell Website (http://nicolemitchell.com/joshua-abrams)
3/13/2024

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

"Chicago master drummer/percussionist Avreeayl Ra was born in Chicago and still lives there today. He is a renowned musician always in demand among visiting jazz artists in Chicago. Avreeayl's father, Arthur 'Swinglee' O'Neil, was a tenor saxophonist who was mentor to many young Chicago musicians, including John Gilmore, later the mainstay of Sun Ra's Arkestra. Avreeayl is a long-term member of the Chicago AACM, and has performed and/or recorded with Fred Anderson, Amiri Baraka, Fontella Bass, Lester Bowie, Ari Brown, Oscar Brown, Jr., Henry Butler, Henry Byrd ('Professor Longhair'), Hamid Drake, Nicole Mitchell, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, Malachi Thompson, and many more."

-Ragdale (http://ragdale.org/residency/resident/avreeayl-ra/)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Survivors 1:01

2. Between A Rock 34:51

3. Viscosity 27:28

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Chicago Jazz & Improvisation
Quartet Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Improvised Music

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Aerophonic.


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