The Squid's Ear Magazine
April 18 - 20: Squidco Record Store Weekend! Save 10%-15%



Interstellar Nao (Rick Countryman / Garbriel Lauber / Itzam Cano / Juan Castanon): 4tet (FMR)

The second Interstellar Nao album recorded at No Somos Nada Distro Cafe in Mexico City presents the previous day's concerts from their first FMR album Live at No Somos Nada, expanding the trio of Philippine-based saxophonist Rick Countryman, Swiss drummer living in Mexico City Gabriel Lauber and Lauber's collaborator in the group Zero Point, Mexico City native double bass player Itzam Canois, with guitarist Juan Castañón, founder of Impromuzak Collective.
 

Price: $13.45
Price Was: $14.95
Squidco RSD 2025




Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 3.00 units

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Rick Countryman-alto saxophone

Itzam Cano-acoustic bass

Garbriel Lauber-drums

Juan Castanon-guitar


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




Label: FMR
Catalog ID: FMR671
Squidco Product Code: 33365

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2023
Country: UK
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded live at Pizza Jazz Cafe and No Somos Nada Distro Cafe, Mexico city, Mexico, on March 7th and 8th, 2023.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

The second Interstellar Nao album recorded at No Somos Nada Distro Cafe in Mexico City presents the previous day's concerts from their first FMR album Live at No Somos Nada, expanding the trio of Philippine-based saxophonist Rick Countryman, Swiss drummer living in Mexico City Gabriel Lauber and Lauber's collaborator in the group Zero Point, Mexico City native double bass player Itzam Canois, with guitarist Juan Castañón, founder of Impromuzak Collective.


Artist Biographies

"Rick Countryman (January 31, 1957) is an American jazz saxophonist and flautist.

After years attracting little attention as a baritone saxophone player, including an extended sabbatical, Rick made a late-life change to alto sax, at the urging of bassist, Simon Tan. His first recorded session with Simon and Christian Bucher, avant garde drummer from Switzerland, attracted the attention of French label "Improvising Beings" and was released as "Acceptance - Resistance". The recordings received many positive reviews, both in the United States and Europe.

Rick currently now has 9 releases on 4 labels across Europe, Asia, and the United States, including multiple CDs with Japanese improvisational drummer, Sabu Toyozumi, who has made several trips to Manila to perform and record. The music continues to receive positive reviews and airplay. Two recordings were listed in "Gold Dolphy 2018".

Since 2011, Rick has been an active member of the Manila jazz scene. He leads and performs in ensembles on baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, alto flute and bass flute; performing original compositions, as well as free jazz/improvisation, in his own jazz quartets and trios. His style is heavily influenced by Eric Dolphy, Sonny Simmons and the 60s Free Jazz movement. He was a student of Bert Wilson, and considers Michael Bisio and Rick Mandyck early mentors."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Countryman)
4/9/2025

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

"Itzam Cano (born in Mexico City, Mexico) is a Mexican jazz double bassist.

He studied ethnomusicology at the Escuela Nacional de Música from the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). He studied electric bass and contrabass and the development of improvisation, jazz theory, and harmony.

In late 2005, he joined free jazz ensemble Zero Point. In September 2006, Zero Point participated in the Japanese New Music Festival (Tatsuya Yoshida, Makoto Kawabata y Atsushi Tsuyama), at Multiforo Alicia in Mexico City. By 2007, Zero Point released its first digital album for Ayler Records.

He has worked with Elliot Levin, Marco Eneidi, Dennis, Stefan y Aarón Gonzales, Dave Dove, Shelley Hirsch, Scott Forrey, Milo Tamez, Tom Corona, Lawrence Williams, and Generación Espontánea.

Since 2004 he has performed at the Ollin Jazz Tlalpan Internacional, Festival de Improvisación Libre, Free Jazz y Noise "Cha'ak'ab Paaxil" (with sede in Mérida, Yucatán), Festival Internacional de las Americas in La Habana, Cúba and in festivals in cities like Puebla, Guadalajara, and Zacatecas.

He has been a member of the bands Antimateria, Zero Point, Claude Lawrence trío and has been part of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Puebla and the Orquesta de Percutoris from the Escuela Nacional de Música at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ENM-UNAM)."

-Wikipedia (https://yamm.finance/wiki/Itzam_Cano.html)
4/9/2025

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

"Juan Castañón (1980) Mexican guitarrist improviser.

He began at age of 13 as a self-taught musician playing popular mexican music on accordion with various bands in northern México.

He became interested in jazz guitar and improvisation at 18 and performed in his hometown Monterrey. He moved to Italy at 23, and studied with guitarist Marco Accqarelli at Università della Musica in Rome. He got into improvised music scene after meeting Marco Colonna and Bruno Angeloni with whom he toured and made various recordings.

Mainly interested in music where the improvisation plays an important role, his musical range extends and blends traditions as Mexican music, jazz, improvised music and rock.

He studied classical northern Indian music and the Indian instrument known as the Sarod with Maestro Michael Robbins. in 2015, he recorded the album "SARODYA" with the percussionist Alvaro Rubio on tablas.

Juan Castañón has released more than a dozen recordings under Mexican and European record labels, as well as digital distribution original productions.

He has toured around Mexico performing at jazz, and world music festivals, and played in Cuba, Italy, Spain. He has lead various projects for the past 10 years such as Impromuzak Ensemble, D/zazter trío, Acasia trío and Faena Monk.

He has collaborated, performed and recorded alongside many musicians and artists as Marco Eneidi, Bruno Angeloni, Dennis Gonzalez, Marco Colonna, Tatzuya Nakatani, Steffen Roth, Gianni Lenoci, Marcello Magliocchi, Don Malfon, Gabriel Lauber, and many more."

-Improvisors Without Borders (https://database.shareimpro.eu/en/person/juan-castanon)
4/9/2025

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


Track Listing:



1. Demon Chase 12:38

2. El Canto De Los Suenos (The Song Of Dreams) 22:31

3. Regreso A La Nada (Return To Nothing) 21:19

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Quartet Recordings
Mexico, Central & South Americas + Islands
Staff Picks & Recommended Items

Search for other titles on the label:
FMR.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Toyozumi, Sabu / Richard Allan Bates / Rick Countryman
The Separation of Sound and Space
(FMR)
The trio of Sabu Toyozumi, Richard Allan Bates, and Rick Countryman delve into a contemplative exploration anchored by Bates's electric upright bass, whose resonant tones foster rich harmonic dialogues between Toyozumi's textured percussion and Countryman's fluid alto saxophone, emphasizing the nuanced interplay of sound and space.
Zero Point (Rick Countryman / German Bringas / Itzam Cano / Gabriel Lauber)
Determinism
(FMR)
An exciting meeting of free improvisers featuring saxophonists Rick Countryman and Germán Bringas — whose synesthetic explorations have defined Mexico City's free jazz underground since the '90s with his band Zero Point — updated here with bassist Itzam Cano and drummer Gabriel Lauber, Countryman joining while in Mexico City for this fiercely interactive 2022 session of profound sonic reflections.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Unanimity
(FMR)
Reflecting their evolution as a trio, Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, Filipino bassist Simon Tan, and American alto saxophonist Rick Countryman present a powerful statement of collective freedom, with the album title capturing their progression as a cohesive and expressive unit, highlighted by Bucher's rhythmic mastery, Tan's solid foundation, and Countryman's soulful, dynamic lead.
Bucher / Countryman
Continuum
(FMR)
Continuing their long-standing collaboration, American alto saxophonist Ricky Countryman, based in the Philippines, and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher explore space and time through fourteen succinct improvisations recorded at Strawberry Jams studio in Quezon City, blending pensive moments with dynamic interplay in a compelling journey of evolving musical dialogue.
Countryman / Toyozumi / Bates
Lovely Tago (On A Sunday Night)
(FMR)
The first of two performances at Tago Jazz in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines in 2024 between first generation Japanese free improv drummer Sabu Toyozumi, Malaysia-based bassist Richard Allan Bates, and Philippines-based alto saxophonist Rick Countryman, two contrasting sets from the first of a week of performances and studio recordings between three extraordinary collective players.
Countryman / Toyozumi / Bates
Lovely Tago (On A Friday Night)
(FMR)
The second of two performances at Tago Jazz in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines in 2024 between first generation Japanese free improvisational drummer, Sabu Toyozumi, Malaysia-based bassist, Richard Allan Bates, and Philippines-based alto saxophonist, Rick Countryman, this energetic concert recorded after two days in the studio developing their collective sound.
Bucher / Countryman / Gaerlan
The Cosmic Stream
(FMR)
Captured as a live stream recording in 2023 at Tonehouse Studios in Singapore, after 26 days of touring South East Asia by the 12 year collaborative trio of Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, American ex-pat living in the Philippines Rick Countryman on alto sax and Filipino bassist Johnny Gaerlan, a great free jazz session summing up a satisfying tour.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Old Drains New Stains
(FMR)
The collaboration between Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, Filipino bassist Simon Tan and American ex-patriate living in the Phillipines, saxophonist Rick Countryman, continues with this exceptional collective free jazz album, their fourth on FMR, captured in the studio in Quezon City, Philippines in 2022 for nine exuberant and astute improvisations.
Bucher, Christian / Rick Countryman
The Force Of Gravity
(FMR)
Documenting the continued growth and evolution of the longer than a decade collaboration between American alto saxophonist living in the Philippines Ricky Countryman and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher, performing in the Strawberry Jams studio in Quezon City for thirteen succinct improvisations titled with stellar analogies, from pensive music to excitingly dynamic interplay.
Interstellar Nao (Rick Countryman / Gabriel Lauber / Itzam Cano)
Live at No Somos Nada
(FMR)
Referencing the Spanish galleons that sailed the Pacific Ocean between Acapulco in Mexico and Manila in the Philippine Islands, this meeting in Mexico city brings Philippine-based saxophonist Rick Countryman together with Swiss drummer living in Mexico City Gabriel Lauber and Lauber's collaborator in the group Zero Point, Mexico City native double bass player Itzam Canois.
Countryman / Bucher / Yandsen
The Malaysia Live Fact Session
(FMR)
Two 2022 live free jazz sessions from Malaysia, the first a saxophone duo between US ex-pat based in The Philippines, Rick Countryman on alto and Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen, appropriately recorded at The Saxophone Store in Kula Lumpur; then 5 trio improvisations recorded in concert at Live Fact in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia on the same tour.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Sacred Fire Of The Free
(FMR)
The continuing collaboration from the collective free jazz trio of Philippines-based American alto saxophonist Rick Countryman, Philippines bassist Simon Tan and Swiss drummer Christian Bucher is heard in this studio session of eight lyrically inclined tracks of spontaneous interaction, a well-balanced mix of energetic grooves and contemplative group conversation.
River People (Bucher / Countryman / Alegre / Hori)
Sol Expression
(ChapChap Records)
Evoking images of Indigenous Filipinos through free improvisation, with titles referencing the rivers, rains and environment that define them, the multi-national River People quartet of Christian Bucher on drums, Johnny Alegre on guitar, Tetsuro Hori on bass and Rick Countryman on alto saxophone are captured in the studio in Manila for seven superb collective conversations.
Countryman, Rick / Christian Bucher
Once
(FMR)
From the same 2017 session that was released as the album Estuary, this concert in the Philippines between American expatriate saxophonist Rick Countryman and visiting Swiss drummer Christian Bucher expands on the free playing of these two empathetic improvisers, presenting a mix of textural, conceptual, melodic and rhythmic interplay steeped in their personal histories.
Countryman, Rick
The First Bird
(ChapChap Records)
Taking his inspiration from the concepts and work of German fractal image & video artist Joerg Wand, US-born and Philippines-based alto saxophonist Rick Countryman presents his first unaccompanied saxophone album, as he flows, winds and weaves his saxophone along rich peninsular curves to illustrate Wand's vision through fluid and sustained playing.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Rick Countryman
Misaki Castle Tower
(ChapChap Records)
The fourth and final night of a series of concerts after three nights of trios and quartets, this live recording captures the duo of legendary Japanese drummer Sabu Toyozumi and American alto saxophonist living in the Philippines Rick Countryman, freely improvising four impresseive and creative conversations of both intricate and reflective dialog.
Toyozumi / Countryman / Tan
Chasing the Sun
(ChapChap Records)
Two live sets at Tago Jazz Cafe in the Philippines in 2018 from the trio of master percussionist Sabu Toyozumi on drums, American ex-pat Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, and Simon Tan on acoustic bass, this their 3rd album of solid free improvisation of extended and masterful discourse, unusual percussive devices, and powerful rhythmic foundation.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Rick Countryman
I Am Village
(FMR)
After 3 consecutive nights performing in trio & quartet formats at Balete at Kamias, in Quezon City, Philippines, the duo of drummer Sabu Toyozum and alto saxophonist Rick Countryman performed the final set as a duo, their many collaborations evident in the freedom and flexibility each provides to the other, delivering an exemplary example of a free jazz sax & drum duo.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Rick Countryman / Simon Tan / Isla Antinero / Stella Ignacio
The Search for the Five Senses
(Sol Disk Records)
Recorded during Sabu Toyozumi's first collaboration with Rick Countryman in 2017, this album features music from the same nights that produced Jya-Ne and Center of Contradiction: 6 tracks from an August 11th quintet performance with voice and trombone, and electric bass; plus 2 tracks from the following night in a trio format with acoustic bass.
Toyozumi / Yandsen / Countryman
Future of Change
(ChapChap Records)
The collaboration of American alto saxophonist living in the Philippines Rick Countryman with legendary Japanese free improvising drummer Sabu Toyozumim, also performing on Erhu, continues with this outstanding performance at the LIMBO Art Gallery in Makati, Philippines in 2020, joined by Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen for a burning set of free jazz.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Simon Tan / Yong Yandsen / Rick Countryman
reAbstraction
(FMR)
Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen joins the working trio of Sabu Toyozumi, Simon Tan, and Rick Countryman for a lively set of performances, Sabu and Countryman having met Yandsen in Kuala Lumpur several times the previous year for unrelated projects, bringing confident familiarity to their improvisations, captured here as a trio and quartet from a 3-night engagement in Manila.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Blue Spontaneity
(FMR)
Drawn from 3 days of recording in July 2019, after more than 6 years of collaboration in the Philippines between drummer Christian Bucher, alto saxophonist Rick Countryman, and bassist Simon Tan, and released as a complement to their "Empathy" album, in trio improvisations, plus the title track a duo between Bucher & Countryman; a melodic and well-balanced album of free jazz.
Toyozumi, Sabu / Simon Tan / Rick Countryman / Yong Yandsen
Voices Of The Spirit
(ChapChap Records)
Recorded during a series of concerts reuniting alto saxphonist Rick Countryman with mentor and friend, drummer Sabu Toyozumi, this live concert at Tago Jazz Cafe in Philippines includes acoustic bassist Simon Tan and free improvising Malaysian tenor saxophonist Yong Yandsen, in an adventurous set of extended performances of intertwining reeds and rhythm; superb!
Toyozumi / Tan / Countryman
Turtle Bird
(FMR)
The entire first set and the final selection from the last set of a live concert at at Tago Jazz Cafe, in Quezon City, Philippines from the trio of Simon Tan on acoustic bass, Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, and Sabu Toyozumi on drums, including the full performance of material from their Chasing the Sun album; fluid, intelligent, captivating free jazz.
Bucher / Tan / Countryman
Empathy
(FMR)
Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, Simon Tan on bass, and Christian Bucher on drums cover diverse territory while letting each player stand out in this studio album of collective improvisation, their frequent collaborations allowing them to evoke a strong degree of melodicism among spontaneous interaction, from energetic grooves to ballads to beautiful textural work.
Toyozumi / Countryman / Tan
Chasing The Sun [VINYL]
(ChapChap Records)
Two lives sets at Tago Jazz Cafe in the Philippines in 2018 from the trio of master percussionist Sabu Toyozumi on drums, American ex-pat Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, and Simon Tan on acoustic bass, this their 3rd album of solid free improvisation of extended and masterful discourse, unusual percussive devices, and powerful rhythmic foundation.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC