Ramblings of a Modern Bass Clarinetist #8

Busy times. Gigs, recordings, rehearsals, not to mention the time here at the keyboard on the tour front. It's always all about practicing though. Pushing everyday to find new things. That's the special work.

The new Locksmtih Isidore record is mixed and will be mastered very soon. The record is set for release later this year on the great Polish label Not Two. This new record is a definite change of pace for the band and for the the music the band is working with. With this record I took a different approach with both the writing and the improvising, choosing to explore a more "jazz oriented" music for the trio. It's mostly swinging with more composed material than on my other records. I have spent a lot of time playing straight ahead gigs in and out of Chicago and I've been sensitive about how I want to use the jazz tradition in my own music and groups. With this record I'm really putting it out there. Really intermingling the bop and free tradition. In general, my thing is all about developing a kind of fluidity and flexibility in the music. To have the whole tradition in my horn and to bring it out in an original way. I'm super excited for folks to hear the new record.

My world of playing requires a lot of flexibility. In a given week I'm playing a wide range of types and styles of music and I do my best to approach every gig with an open mind and open ears. I play with a lot of the experimental electronic musicians in town, as well as with the many amazing jazz and free jazz players in Chicago. I'm working more and more this way in Europe, as well. Last month on a Tuesday night in Switzerland I was playing standards as a special guest with a piano trio and the next night I was on a lowercase sound art gig with Lost Lucy (Fred Longberg-Holm, Isa Wiss, and Marc Unternahrer) in Luzern. The bass clarinet is so full of sounds and colors, This is enough to keep me busy for many lifetimes.

To hear two tracks from the upcoming Locksmith Isiodre record, check out Crayons for Sammy and Cash, Couch, and Camper on my listen page.