The Squid's Ear Magazine


Avenaim, Robbie / Chris Abrahams / Jim Denley: Weft (Relative Pitch)

The Australian trio of percussionist Robbie Avenaim, keyboard player Chris Abrahams performing on a Waldorf Q+ Synthesiser and bass flutist Jim Denley, all compatriots in a variety of groupings, in an extended studio improvisation of spacious textures and rapidly understated percussive elements, aptly titled for the weaving and cris-crossing threads on a loom.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Robbie Avenaim-percussion

Chris Abrahams-synthesizer

Jim Denley-bass flute


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




UPC: 5902249003499

Label: Relative Pitch
Catalog ID: RPR1126
Squidco Product Code: 30681

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2021
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded at Challis Studio, in Sydney, Australia, on July 1st, 2017, by the artists.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Although Weft is the first release for this trio, the three musicians - Jim Denley, Robbie Avenaim and Chris Abrahams - have been playing together in various groups and contexts for decades-often meeting at Chris' house to converse, drink tea and play/record music. The line-up for this particular session comprised bass flute, Waldorf Q+ Synthesiser and typewriter. The combination of instruments produced an intriguing fabric: one that fluidly alternates between texture and melodic statement; three strands that are constantly intertwining and diverging in deft movement."-Relative Pitch

Message from the artists:

"We acknowledge that we made this work on the land of the Gadigal and Bidjigal peoples of the Eora Nation who traditionally occupied the Sydney coast. The sovereignty of this land was never ceded and we pay our respects to Elders past and present."


Artist Biographies

"Robbie Avenaim is an innovative Australian musician, drummer, sound and installation artist with an international reputation for bold, sonic exploration. Avenaim has been at the forefront of the Australian experimental music scene both as a performer and a curator. Over the past 25 years Robbie has developed a unique and personal musical language on the drums, combining traditional and extended techniques with physical modification of the Drums. Modifications have included extending use of the instrument's, various motorised, robotic and kinetic percussive mechanisms and in so doing, provide greater scope for both composing and performing. As a musician / composer / instrument builder, Robbie's musical ideas are inseparable from the instruments he design's and a integral part of the compositional process. After returning from studies in New York with renowned composer John Zorn and observing the vibrant new music N.Y has to offer, Avenaim was inspired to foster a varied experimental music ecosystem in Australia by co-founding and organising the legendary WHAT IS MUSIC? Festival, Australia's premier annual touring showcase of local and international experimental music from 1994-2012 and has since organised many significant sound-based exhibitions, performances and festivals regionally and overseas, which have been essential for the local growth and international prestige of Australia's avant-garde musical reputation. Since 2017 Avenaim has developed an experimental music concert series specifically for housebound young people with disabilities, called "Safe in Sound"."

-Robbie Avenaim Website (http://www.robbieavenaim.com/index.php/biography-2/)
3/13/2024

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

"Chris Abrahams was born in Oamaru, New Zealand but grew up in Sydney, Australia.

He became very active in the Sydney jazz scene in the early eighties playing with modern jazz groups including Mark Simmonds' Freeboppers and The Keys Music Orchestra. With Lloyd Swanton he formed the 60's modern jazz-influenced The Benders in 1982. During its day, the band released three albums - E, False Laughter and Distance.

In 1984 Chris recorded and released his first solo piano album - Piano, followed in 1986 by Walk.

In 1985 Chris became a founding member of the Sydney indie rock band The Sparklers. As a result of this, Chris began working regularly with the singer and songwriter Melanie Oxley. Chris collaborated with Melanie, writing songs and producing albums, throughout the nineties. There are five releases with her: Resisting Calm (1990), Welcome to Violet (1992), Coal (1994), Jerusalem Bay (1998) and Blood Oranges (2003).

Chris released a third solo piano album, Glow, in 2001. This was followed in 2003 by Streaming, and then Thrown (2004), Play Scar (2010) and Memory Night (2013).

Chris has collaborated, in both recording and performance, with many contemporary improvising musicians including Burkhard Beins, Mike Cooper and Anthony Pateras. He performs regularly in the improvising music scenes both in Australia and Europe."

-The Necks Website (http://www.thenecks.com/bio)
3/13/2024

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

"Jim Denley was born in Bulli, Australia in January 1957. Wind instruments and electronics are core elements of his musical output.

An emphasis on spontaneity, site-specific work and collaboration has been central to his work. He sees no clear distinctions between his roles as instrumentalist, improviser and composer.

Collaborations, his radio feature for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, won the Prix Italia in 1989. His interest in radio has continued with the ABC over 17 years. In May 2006 he recorded a program for the ABC in the Budawang Mountains, south-west of Sydney, which has now been made into a CD, Through Fire, Crevice and the Hidden Valley. This received an Honorary Mention in the Digital Musics category of the Prix Ars Electronica 2008. He has been to the Budawangs again to record a new program for the ABC, Co-existence. The ABC will enter the 2006 recordings in Prix Italia 2009.

In 1990 he was a member of Derek Bailey's Company for a week of concerts in London. He co-founded the electroacoustic text/music group Machine for Making Sense.

In 2006 and 2007 he received a Fellowship from the Australia Council for the Arts to research and develop his concept of Meta instrument. As part of this he formed the group Metalog - they toured Australia July 2008.

He has played throughout Australia, Europe, Japan and the US with artists such as Chris Abrahams, Clare Cooper, Keith Rowe, Joel Stern, Robbie Avenaim, Jon Rose, John Butcher, Otomo Yoshide, Fred Frith, Phil Niblock, Trey Spruance, Clayton Thomas, Tess de Quincy, Axel Doerner, Adam Sussman, Ami Yoshida, Oren Ambarchi, Tony Buck, Ikue Mori, Satchiko M, Malcolm Goldstein and Annette Krebs."

-Australian Music Centre (http://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/artist/denley-jim)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Weft 45:16

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Trio Recordings
Australian Improvisers, Composers and Experimenters

Search for other titles on the label:
Relative Pitch.


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