Tag: TimBerne

Angel Dusk

Angel Dusk by Tim Berne and Matt Mitchell.
Bandcamp Link: Angel Dusk

Last year Mitchell released a solo piano recording of Tim Berne pieces, FØRAGE.

This year, Berne and Mitchell have collaborated on a duo album. (They also play together in Berne’s Snakeoil ensemble.) I feel a bit like the FØRAGE album’s sensibilities have melted a bit into this duo album. Berne slows down (a bit) and his playing is less angular. Heck, the songs “Chance” and “Snail’s Pace” could almost be accused of lyricism.

I like pretty much everything Berne and Mitchell do, so it’s tough to recommend one thing over another.

But, to hear two players who are this familiar with each other do pretty much what they want for 40 minutes… Well, just listening to the unadorned interplay between the two of them makes this a “must buy” album for me.

#TimBerne #MattMitchell #AngelDusk #TodaysCommuteSoundtrack

2017-08-17 Incidentals

Incidentals

Incidentals by Tim Berne’s Snakeoil aka Tim Berne, Ryan Ferreira, Matt Mitchell, Oscar Noriega, and Ches Smith (with special guest David Torn on a couple tracks). This is the 4th Snakeoil album on ECM and the 5th overall, if you count the Anguis Oleum live CD included with the Berne/Byram Book “Spare”. Also, the 2nd Snakeoil album with guitars.

I’ve been watching Berne for, uh, I don’t know how long. I guess, the first release which really caught my eye was the anxiety inducing, yet hilarious, “Fractured Fairy Tales” from 1989. So, crap, at least 28 years.

I was initially hesitant about the addition of Ferreira’s guitar to the Snakeoil mix, but I think they have really found a place for it to work and add tension and drama to the group’s compositions.

This is a great addition to Snakeoil and Berne’s body of work, and maybe Snakeoil’s best album so far.

If you’re in the Bay Area, or mobile, Snakeoil will be playing SF Jazz’ Henderson Lab on Saturday, September 23rd.

#TimBerne #RyanFerreira #MattMitchell #OscarNoriega #ChesSmith #davidtorn# SFJazz #TodaysCommuteSoundtrack

2017-06-01 Duopoly

Duopoly by Kris Davis.

A set of 16 composed and improvised duos between Kris Davis and a variety of collaborators: Don Byron, Tim Berne, Marcus Gilmore, Billy Drummond, Angelica Sanchez, Craig Taborn, Julian Lage, and Bill Frisell. All the pieces have their own charm, but I am especially fond of the piano duos with Craig Taborn.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #KrisDavis #TimBerne #DonByron #BillyDrummond #BillFrisell #JulianLage #AngelicaSanchez #CraigTaborn

2017-05-04 Førage

Førage. Matt Mitchell.

Grace and beauty aren’t characteristics I normally associate with Tim Berne’s harmonically restless and radically syncopated pieces. However, on this solo piano recording of his works by Matt Mitchell, there are some astoundingly beautiful and graceful passages.

#TodaysCommuteSoundtrack #MattMitchell #TimBerne #ScrewgunRecords #Screwgub