The Squid's Ear Magazine


Knuffke, Kirk / Frederico Ughi / Chris Welcome: Garden Of Gifts (577 Records)

An early example of the focus and encompassing direction of the 577 label run by Italian-born/NY-based drummer Federico Ughi, in a trio with trumpeter Kirk Knuffke and guitarist Chris Welcome, building from an introspective approach to free playing as they expand their group energy through shards of organic sound, finally releasing into a beautiful "Inner Void".
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Federico Ughi-drums, percussion, flute

Kirk Knuffke-trumpet

Chris Welcome-guitar


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




UPC: 616892009467

Label: 577 Records
Catalog ID: 577-9
Squidco Product Code: 19519

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2009
Country: USA
Packaging: Jewel Case
Recorded at Frederico Ughi's house in Brooklyn, New York, on May 9th, 2008.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"There are no signposts to direct towards great free improvisation recordings, because there are no scenic overlooks where it's possible to pull over and take a snapshot or buy a postcard before heading to the next tourist attraction. To take in a recording such as Garden Of Gifts, it's necessary to stand back and take in the whole-the same way the Grand Canyon has to be viewed.

Garden Of Gifts was recorded in May [2008] at drummer Federico Ughi's house in Brooklyn. Born in Italy, Ughi moved to the US in 1999 and has been a best known for his work with the likes of Daniel Carter, Steve Swell, William Parker and Ras Moshe. His playing partners are up-and-coming improvisers trumpeter Kirk Knuffke and guitarist Chris Welcome. Knuffke's quartet released Bigwig (Clean Feed, 2008) to positive reviews and the versatile musician has worked with both the avant-garde Butch Morris and pop star Josh Ritter.

The music mushrooms from organic and simple parts. All four tracks ease into meaning, with Ughi setting the scene. Much of the territory explored is without a constant pulse or rhythm. And each track unfurls without sounding rushed, mostly spare affairs with seemingly no space needing to be filled with extra notes. The drummer appears to guide this outing through its mystical paths. Not one single moment is chosen as a pinnacle, but the bent guitar notes, slurred trumpet passages and cymbal tracings give the recording very rich textures."-Mark Corroto, All About Jazz


Get additional information at All About Jazz

Artist Biographies

"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."

-577 Records (http://www.577records.com/federicoughi/)
3/13/2024

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

"Cornetist and Composer Kirk Knuffke is the winner of Downbeat Magazine's "Rising Star"critics poll for 2015. A recipient of the Jerome Foundation composers grant, Kirk has released 15 recordings as a leader or co-leader. "One of modern jazz's most skilled navigators of the divide between inside and outside, freedom and swing", he has "full command of his most demanding instrument" - All About Jazz. Kirk placed in the top five in the World in the El Intruso critics poll and was one of 6 nominees for Trumpeter of the year by the Jazz Journalist Association.

Matt Wilson, Allison Miller, Butch Morris, Uri Caine, Michael Formanek, and many more have hired him as a sideman for over 60 recordings, he has been called "One of New York City's busiest musicians" - New York Times.

Knuffke has been based in NYC since 2005. Shortly after his arrival Knuffke began playing with Butch Morris, this friendship resulted in 4 recordings and several European tours. Kirk joined the celebrated Matt Wilson Quartet in 2009, recording "Gathering Call" (Palmetto) featuring John Medeski and touring each year. 2016 brought Matt Wilson's "Beginning of a memory" Palmetto, which received 5 stars in Downbeat Magazine. Michael Formaneks "The Distance" ECM was also awarded 5 stars this year. Knuffke also plays in "Sifter" with Mary Halvorson and Wilson, Ideal Bread, Allison Miller's "Boom Tic Boom", Todd Sickafoose's "Tiny Resistors" and groups led by Ray Anderson, Uri Caine, Mark Helias, Bill Goodwin, Karl Berger and Ted Brown to name a few. "Arm and Hands" a recent release garnering praise from every major Jazz publication as 4 Stars in Downbeat magazine review and Sunday New York Times. The Following CDs "Little Cross" Steeplechase records and "Lamplighter" Fresh Sound Records have also received much praise. Kirk Has had feature articles in Downbeat Magazine, Jazz Times, Germany's "Sonic", and Denmark's "JazzSpecial" among others."

-Kirk Knuffke Website (http://kirkknuffke.com/biography.html)
3/13/2024

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

"From sparse chamber-jazz to spastic avant-metal, Chris Welcome lends his unique voice to a variety of ensembles. He has performed withHOT DATE, Apocalypso, Mothguts, Mike Pride's Drummer's Corpse, his own quartet, and many others. As a composer, he has written extensively for his quartet and for various chamber ensembles. His compositions combine space and pointillism with extended techniques, electronics and a loose, Jazz sensibility. Chris Welcome attended Rutgers University where he studied closely with Vic Juris, Stanley Cowell, and Ralph Bowen. He was born in 1980 in New York and grew up in the Chicago area where he studied guitar with Frank Portolese. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY."

-Chris Welcome Website (http://chriswelcome.com/About.html)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. In This Vernacular 14:19

2. Gratitude Time 8:31

3. Fall Expanded 10:17

4. Inner Void 15:50

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
577 Records.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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