Recorded live at De Studio, Antwerp, Belgium
March 10th, 2018
Recorded, Mixed, and Mastered by Koen Vandenhoudt
Produced by Dave Rempis
Special thanks to Christel Kumpen, Koen Vandenhoudt, Oorstof, & Sound In Motion
credits
released May 20, 2020
This fiery quartet recording was made during a one-week European tour organized by Norwegian drummer Tollef Østvang as part of his ongoing Chicago Connections collaboration, which has featured artists including Keefe Jackson, Josh Berman, Mars Williams, Ben Lamar Gay, Dave Rempis, Nick Mazzarella, and jaimie branch in collaboration with their Norwegian counterparts since it’s inception in 2014. The band had kicked the tour off with a bang at the ArtActs Festival in St Johan, Austria the night before, celebrating with friends until the wee hours, and leaving directly for a long travel day up to Antwerp at 7 am with nary a wink. As always, the energy of the remarkable audience at De Studio, built over many years by the insane dedication and hard work of Oorstof organizers Christel Kumpen and Koen Vandenhoudt, revved the band back to life in no time.
This transatlantic pairing of American front line and Norwegian rhythm section has proved a powerful combination over the last decade, and it certainly doesn’t fail here. And although branch and Rempis have worked together since 2005, when the latter returned to her home town after spending several years in school in Boston, this is the first commercially available recording they’re featured on together! Their long-time relationship as friends and musical colleagues is openly on display here, the playful give and take and bits of teasing one-upmanship pushing the momentum of the music forward. Of course the juggernaut rhythm section steaming away underneath them doesn’t hurt with that. Flaten and Østvang both hail from the same corner of Norway, in the mountains outside of Trondheim, and seem to have a musical affinity that may stem from that geographic proximity. All of these bandmates have overlapping connections and history that makes this unit one to watch out for.
Aerophonic Records is a 100% artist-run label created by well-known Chicago saxophonist Dave Rempis (Rempis Percussion
Quartet, The Engines, Ballister, Vandermark Five) to document his ongoing work. His intent with the label is to give him more direct contact with his audience, more control over how his work is presented, and more synchronicity between touring schedules and recorded output....more
Simply amazing to hear a new album with Wadada and Ewart!! ...And Reed rounds out this trio beautifully.
Just gave it my first spin. Absolutely magical. jeffrey maurer