Matana Roberts

[sonnyhill]

Caught alto saxophonist Matana Roberts this past Thursday at the Jazz Gallery. She was celebrating the release of her new album The Chicago Project. She played a long and amazing -- approximately hour and 3/4 -- set of material from the album. At the Gallery, Jeff Parker was on guitar, Josh Abrams on bass, and Tyshawn Sorey on drums. It will be a feat if I see a better performance of anything in 2008.

The album covers the blues to "avant garde" jazz and everything in between. Matana and Fred Anderson engage in three free improvisations on the album. At the performance, I picked up a copy of album on vinyl -- which was neat. It is worth picking up.

[jimi089]

Thanks for the review of the show, I would have loved to see it. I have been meaning to pick the album up, maybe I will do so now...

[papsrus]

I pre-ordered this album a few weeks ago and it should arrive this week.

Her band Sticks and Stones has a couple of nice releases also, titled "Sticks and Stones" and "Shed Grace." A really creative player.

[Larry Kart]

Been very impressed by her in-person in recent years (first heard her about 10 years ago, maybe more, when she was student at, I think, DePaul U. in Chicago) but haven't felt so far that her records have come up to that level. Sounds like this new album might be the one.

[Alexander Hawkins]

I caught her over here in London 6 weeks or so ago, and she was magnificent. WHAT a sound! A very compelling presence onstage as well.

[Chuck Nessa]

I wish her well.

[jimi089]

Received my copy of the album this week.

It's a great record. I really enjoy Matana Roberts' compositions, and Josh Abrams + Jeff Parker are two of my favorite musicians around Chicago these days. I must admit that the verdict is still out on Frank Rosaly's drumming for me. There are times where he really shines and other times when I'm not quite sure how his playing fits in to what's going on musically. I also have some issues with his sense of time on his cymbals, but again it's intermittent.

The duets with Fred are great. Matana has obviously internalized Fred's approach and can mimic it to great extent - but also offers her own sound and contrast. For me personally, it's always a pleasure to hear Fred in any setting, but I really appreciate hearing him in duos - along these lines I loved his duo release with Harrison Bankhead last year.

If I have one complaint about the album, it's the sound/production. It sounds a little dry to my ears, especially the drums. It works in some places but at other times I find it a bit too much.

All in all, a great album. I'm sure it will get a lot more play on my stereo.

I'm interested to hear what others think if/when they pick it up as well.

Edited March 15, 2008 by The Danimal

[Larry Kart]

Frank is the best drummer in town IMO.

[papsrus]

Received my copy of the album this week.

It's a great record. I really enjoy Matana Roberts' compositions, and Josh Abrams + Jeff Parker are two of my favorite musicians around Chicago these days. I must admit that the verdict is still out on Frank Rosaly's drumming for me. There are times where he really shines and other times when I'm not quite sure how his playing fits in to what's going on musically. I also have some issues with his sense of time on his cymbals, but again it's intermittent.

The duets with Fred are great. Matana has obviously internalized Fred's approach and can mimic it to great extent - but also offers her own sound and contrast. For me personally, it's always a pleasure to hear Fred in any setting, but I really appreciate hearing him in duos - along these lines I loved his duo release with Harrison Bankhead last year.

If I have one complaint about the album, it's the sound/production. It sounds a little dry to my ears, especially the drums. It works in some places but at other times I find it a bit too much.

All in all, a great album. I'm sure it will get a lot more play on my stereo.

I'm interested to hear what others think if/when they pick it up as well.

I too am enthusiastic about this one. In fact, it's prompted me to search out some of her other stuff (aside from the 2 Sticks and Stones releases, which I have and also love.) I was scouring around for this one earlier today:

... which if you go here, you can read a nice review and some feedback from Roberts.

Back to 'Chicago Project.' The Anderson duets are wonderful -- a highlight for me -- but the album overall has a real nice mix of free-ish playing and more melodic-based playing -- which is kind of Roberts' MO. It's been getting pretty regular spins here, and growing on me with each new listen.

The same blog linked above has a quick review of 'Chicago' here. (Which, btw, this guy reviews a LOT of new free jazz releases, and does a pretty good job of giving you a layman's take on things. Gives you some idea of what the music's like without laying on a thick layer of BS.)

Edited March 15, 2008 by papsrus

[jimi089]

Frank is the best drummer in town IMO.

Interesting - maybe our tastes diverge at the drummer spot or maybe I haven't heard him enough. I've seen him live probably 6-10 times and half those times I was seriously unimpressed, but he seems to get better every time I've seen him. Still, I can think of a number of drummers I'd rather see. Are there any other recordings he's on where you're fond of his drumming that I should check out?

[Larry Kart]

Frank is the best drummer in town IMO.

Interesting - maybe our tastes diverge at the drummer spot or maybe I haven't heard him enough. I've seen him live probably 6-10 times and half those times I was seriously unimpressed, but he seems to get better every time I've seen him. Still, I can think of a number of drummers I'd rather see. Are there any other recordings he's on where you're fond of his drumming that I should check out?

The two Keefe Jacksons on Delmark, especially the more recent one (Frank is fine on both, but the latter is a better recording), the Chicago-Luzern Exchange's "Several Lights" (Delmark), Jason Adasiewicz's "Roll Down" (482 Music), both of Toby Summerfield's "Never Enough Hope" recordings (Contraphonic), and no doubt a good many other things that I'm not thinking of but can't get at right now to check because of the aftermath of basement flooding (the CDs aren't ruined, just stashed away in stacks upon stacks where I can't get at them). What drummers on the scene do you like? There are some other very good ones, for sure -- Tim Daisy, Michael Zerang, John Herndon, Dave Williams, the now back in Japan Nori Tanaka, the rather flabbergasting Dylan Ryan all come to mind -- but Frank's "compositional" feel seems special to me. Dare I say he reminds me of the late Philip Wilson?

[papsrus]

... but can't get at right now to check because of the aftermath of basement flooding (the CDs aren't ruined, just stashed away in stacks upon stacks where I can't get at them)....

Yikes!

[jimi089]

Frank is the best drummer in town IMO.

Interesting - maybe our tastes diverge at the drummer spot or maybe I haven't heard him enough. I've seen him live probably 6-10 times and half those times I was seriously unimpressed, but he seems to get better every time I've seen him. Still, I can think of a number of drummers I'd rather see. Are there any other recordings he's on where you're fond of his drumming that I should check out?

The two Keefe Jacksons on Delmark, especially the more recent one (Frank is fine on both, but the latter is a better recording), the Chicago-Luzern Exchange's "Several Lights" (Delmark), Jason Adasiewicz's "Roll Down" (482 Music), both of Toby Summerfield's "Never Enough Hope" recordings (Contraphonic), and no doubt a good many other things that I'm not thinking of but can't get at right now to check because of the aftermath of basement flooding (the CDs aren't ruined, just stashed away in stacks upon stacks where I can't get at them). What drummers on the scene do you like? There are some other very good ones, for sure -- Tim Daisy, Michael Zerang, John Herndon, Dave Williams, the now back in Japan Nori Tanaka, the rather flabbergasting Dylan Ryan all come to mind -- but Frank's "compositional" feel seems special to me. Dare I say he reminds me of the late Philip Wilson?

Thanks for the reply Larry. I have several of those (not the new Roll Down record though it's on my list) and will listen with an ear for Frank's playing. As I said he seems to get better every time I see him which is refreshing. I heard him in some improv contexts the first few times I saw him live where he played very "texturally," dare I say, perhaps a bit too much for my taste, which may have skewed my opinion of him. I'd agree that the strain of his playing that appeals the most to me is his sense of melody and sense of the composition as a whole.

If you were to ask me today though, I'd rather see Tim Daisy, Michael Zerang, Mike Reed, Hamid Drake (does he count as local if he's never here?), Marcus Evans, or Avreeayl Ra.. Have you seen Makaya McCraven since he moved to town (Steve McCraven's son)? He is a great addition to the local scene on the drums - I've seen him play really well in a few contexts since he arrived.

In any case, thanks for the encouragement, I will take a closer listen and make plans to see him live soon.

Edited March 16, 2008 by The Danimal

[Larry Kart]

How could I forget the great Steve Hunt (of Hal Russell NRG Ensemble fame) who probably is the best if you're going to pick one, but I don't much like the only group he seems to play with these days (with Mars Williams, Brian Sandstrom, and Jim Baker). There's also Damon Short. Marc Riordan, and Ted Sirota, though I haven't heard enough Sirota to make up my mind. Dana Hall, too, but as good as he is, he's in a somewhat different area in my mind. Mike Reed is very fine, has grown a lot in the last year.

[jimi089]

Ditto to Steve Hunt, Damon Short, and Ted Sirota - if we're getting into Dana Hall territory (I agree it's a different area in my mind) I'd also add Ernie Adams into the mix who has been absolutely on fire the past few times I've seen him. Charles Heath for that matter as well, although he's out of town these days on tour with a theater production. I saw Robert Shy for the first time in ages recently and he sounded great too. I guess we're blessed with a wealth of drummers in Chicago. One young drummer who I'm still waiting to break out is Isaiah Spencer - thought he was a great young drummer years ago but he hasn't progressed much to my ears since then.

[Larry Kart]

Thanks for the reply Larry. I have several of those (not the new Roll Down record though it's on my list) and will listen with an ear for Frank's playing. As I said he seems to get better every time I see him which is refreshing. I heard him in some improv contexts the first few times I saw him live where he played very "texturally," dare I say, perhaps a bit too much for my taste, which may have skewed my opinion of him. I'd agree that the strain of his playing that appeals the most to me is his sense of melody and sense of the composition as a whole.

If you were to ask me today though, I'd rather see Tim Daisy, Michael Zerang, Mike Reed, Hamid Drake (does he count as local if he's never here?), Marcus Evans, or Avreeayl Ra.. Have you seen Makaya McCraven since he moved to town (Steve McCraven's son)? He is a great addition to the local scene on the drums - I've seen him play really well in a few contexts since he arrived.

In any case, thanks for the encouragement, I will take a closer listen and make plans to see him live soon.

Even if Hamid Drake counted, I'm in EDC's camp on him. Don't know Marcus Evans or Makaya McCraven. Avreeayl Ra has never done much for me, so damn loud (sorry, I was thinking of Vincent Davis there); if he's still around, I preferred Dushon Mosley. Don't want to get into this now, because I'd need to get out more to really back this up, but it's been my impression that the last wave or so of AACM players are not what one would have hoped -- the stature accorded to the rather lightweight Nikki Mitchell not being a good sign in my book, while Corey Wilkes gives me migranes. (Talk about guys who flaunt their chops.)

[Larry Kart]

BTW, Danimal, I'm sure we're at some of the same performances. If so, say hello.

[papsrus]

While you Chicago cats are on the line, would you recommend the city's jazz festival? I'm starting to plan my summer and am considering a trip to Chicago. Do things generally pick up steam across the board during the festival?

[jimi089]

Yes, Larry, I will certainly introduce myself. And agreed that we should take a Chicago drummers discussion elsewhere to get this thread back on track...but Dushun is still around, I'm sure you'll see him with the 8 Bold Souls at the festival this year.

But before we get the thread back on track: papsrus, I think the festival has a great lineup announced thus far: Sonny Rollins, Vijay Iyer, Ornette Coleman, 8 Bold Souls, and many more to be announced later - and the clubs are always hopping for after-sets. The new Jazz Showcase should be reopened by then (I hear May), and the Velvet Lounge usually features Fred Anderson/Kidd Jordan which is always a pleasure. The closing of the HotHouse was a major blow to after set programming however.

Edited March 16, 2008 by The Danimal

[papsrus]

Yes, Larry, I will certainly introduce myself. And agreed that we should take a Chicago drummers discussion elsewhere to get this thread back on track...but Dushun is still around, I'm sure you'll see him with the 8 Bold Souls at the festival this year.

But before we get the thread back on track: papsrus, I think the festival has a great lineup announced thus far: Sonny Rollins, Vijay Iyer, Ornette Coleman, 8 Bold Souls, and many more to be announced later - and the clubs are always hopping for after-sets. The new Jazz Showcase should be reopened by then (I hear May), and the Velvet Lounge usually features Fred Anderson/Kidd Jordan which is always a pleasure. The closing of the HotHouse was a major blow to after set programming however.

Thanks.

[JSngry]

Finally got to hear this album, and...yes!

She's got that sound (her sound) and that swing (her swing), and if her vocabulary is still somewhat...familiar, well, at her age, that's still expected somewhat. As long as she holds on to that sound (her sound) and that swing (her swing), and as long as life don't act a complete fool on her, then yes, here is a voice worth hearing and a career worth following.

[jimi089]

I'm looking forward to seeing her in several different contexts when she plays in Chicago in May. She's doing one chapter from her Coin Coin project, playing with Mike Reed and Tomeka Reid at the Velvet Lounge and doing a set at the Chicago Cultural Center noon series with Jim Baker and Marcus Evans.

[Chuck Nessa]

Why no mention of the (possibly wonderful) Thurman Barker set at the fest?

[jimi089]

Why no mention of the (possibly wonderful) Thurman Barker set at the fest?

Honestly, I didn't think it had been "officially" announced yet. I posted a thread about the preliminary announcements here.

[Van Basten II]

Saw her on stage tonight with this formation Matana Roberts' Mississippi Moonchile with Jeremiah (voice) + Gordon Allen (trumpet) + Shoko Nagai (piano) + Hill Greene (bass) + Tomas Fujiwara (drums) . I still have goosebumps, very personal and emotive music, a formidable and amazing show of around 90 minutes nonstop where they threw everything at us but the kitchen sink. You want free jazz, you got it, you want blues, you got it, you want gospel, you got it.

Definitevely a must see show,.