Asaf Sirkis Great new players.... Tassos piliotopoulos

I recently got turned on to these fellows....

“Devastatingly creative” (John Fordham, The Guardian on Asaf Sirkis)Following on from Tony Williams’ ‘Lifetime’, the Asaf Sirkis Trio picks up the baton and finds new space for a drummer-led trio in the noughties. ‘The Monk’, the group’s recording debut, will be released mid-September through Sam Productions. Asaf, a self-effacing Israeli ex-pat living in North London cuts a refreshing dash through London’s fertile jazz landscape. He reflects in a characteristically understated way, “For me, music begins where ideas finish”. Whilst an afternoon spent with Asaf will find him flitting between themes of existentialism, fatalism, political propaganda and loss it’s never something he does to be elitist. Maybe it’s the years working with Gilad Atzmon and the politics that swirl around their BBC-award-winning live performances, or the military service in Rehovot or the spates of self-imposed exile due to extreme tendonitis (the latter of which gave him the required writing time for this album) that have made him such an intriguing figure and have left telling traces on his accomplished musicianship. This group, a new electric power trio plays original material by Asaf and ranges from delicate jazzy ballads to hard rock-ish improvisations. The line up features Tassos Spiliotopoulos (guitar), Yaron Stavi (bass) and on occasion Asaf's long time friend, drummer and keyboardist Gary Husband on keys. Although Sirkis has been described as having the ‘drumming muscle for a thunderstorm’, dust off the surface a little and a sensitive writer shines through. Opening track “Stoned Bird” takes in Chick Corea-esque jazz fusion, whilst ‘Without A Story’ has a more post-rock feel. A piano solo on ‘The Bridge’ shows the variety on offer from a composer with a broad tonal palette, and title track ‘The Monk’ shows the contrast of pastoral organ with the rock antics of Tassos’ guitar - swinging it back into Tony Williams territory. The gothic rock descriptions that floated around his past record may again be referenced, but this album has a subtle style of its own. Asaf has previously collaborated with luminaries including Tim Garland and Larry Coryell, he has traveled across the globe playing with some of the best figures in jazz and won vast critical acclaim for Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble. Whilst acknowledging the politics and challenges that have coloured his life, this album stands alone as a beacon of contemporary British jazzfrom a truly international trio.

With the zest and zeal of a thunder and lightning storm, Asaf Sirkis takes his new electric trio into blissful states of improvisational glory... and all amidst a multitude of subtle musical delights that can only be described as "pure joy." THE MONK is simply Asaf's best recording to date and his drumming is just phenomenal... every beat... every phrase... every single second!

For this album, Asaf has assembled a truly outstanding group of talented musicians that features Tassos Spiliotopoulos on guitar and Yaron Stavi on bass with the amazing Gary Husband adding keyboards to several tracks.

As a composer, Asaf has branched way out from his gothic jazz journeys with the "Inner Noise," yet still manages to push the jazz-rock envelope into very fresh territory. As any great monk learns from his Masters, Asaf has fused the multi-directional influences of Tony Williams and Jack DeJohnette with the adventurous song writing styles of Allan Holdsworth and avant garde composer, Erik Satie.

The overall mix of tunes on the CD runs the entire spectrum from harmonically gentle to brash creativity. Lightning does indeed strike numerous times throughout the album, but it is never overpowering... there is a calm and confident, almost illuminating attitude that is quite refreshing in comparison to Asaf's previous work.

The guitar work of Tassos Spiliotopoulos is gorgeously sparse and minimalistic on the title track, "The Monk" and "The Journey Home", yet can jump into hard rockin jazz genius at the drop of a hat on tunes like "Without A Story" and the very tasty "Dream". Check out Tassos' site at MySpace.com

On the bass, Yaron Stavi, holds down heavy hanging notes on "End of the Circle" and gets super melodic on "Stoned Bird", "The Monk", and "The Journey Home." Like the patience of a saint, Yaron, delivers a solid foundation for the music to build and grow upon. Check out Yaron's site at MySpace.

Not to be missed is the highly spirited fifth track, "Alone", which features soloing from the entire band, ending with an especially tasty bit of drumming between Asaf and guest percussionist, Adriano Adewale.

All in all, THE MONK delivers beyond expectations. It is an album by an ingenious composer and drummer who carries the listener into new and exciting musical heights! It's definitely not for the meek. This CD has balls, yet it is also very quiet and thought provoking. It's bold music coming from a higher plane and from a drummers perspective, it is a major slice of heaven.

Thanks Asaf, you have learned well from your Masters and are definitely walking the path of an inspired Monk of Rhythm!

Highly recommended with 5 stars.


Asaf Sirkis - Drums/Compositions
Tassos piliotopoulos - Guitar
Yaron Stavi - Electic Bass
Plus special guests:
Gary Husband - Keyboards & Piano
Adriano Adewale - Percussion
SAM Productions 9015 (2008)

1 Stone Bird
2 The Monk
3 The Bridge
4 Without A Story
5 Alone
6 End Of The Circle
7 Dream
8 The Journey Home

www.michaelshrievesspellbinder.com


I date myself...SANTANA drummer Michael Shrieve has a new live album and it is really really good!

here's some info:

Track listing: Every Step of the Way; Flamingo; Moon Over You; Jungle Strut; Gole Sangem; Inside Four Walls; They Love Me Fifteen Feet Away.

Personnel: Michael Shrieve: drums; Danny Godinez: guitar; Joe Doria: Hammond B-3 organ; John Fricke: trumpet; Farko Dosumov: bass.

Man, I don't Know these guy's but I'll tell you Shrieve know's talent...nice band! Shrieve and company cover some tasty tunes...some Santana...."Moon over you" , A really nice tune from the under appreciated Stilleto project, heck even Arto Tuncboyaciyan's "they love me 15 feet away" ( which is a great tune!)

here's a review from All About Jazz:

Live At Tost Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder | Colorburst Soundfield Records, LLC (2008)

By Douglas Payne

Discuss

Drummer Michael Shrieve was the rhythmic force behind the classic Santana band (1969-74) and the one Carlos Santana credits with introducing the guitarist to the music of Miles Davis and John Coltrane—quite something, since the guitarist has paid homage to both jazz legends many times since. Shrieve went onto to many other gigs that mixed the propulsive fury of rock with the challenging musicianship of jazz, including stints with Stomu Yamashta, the Rolling Stones, Klaus Schulze and others.

Ever the busy session player, Shrieve's name isn't as well known as it ought to be, despite his infrequent solo recordings (the last being some decade-and-a-half ago). That should all change with Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder, an elegant jam band of the first order that mixes rock with jazz in equal and exciting measure. This beautifully conceived quintet takes its name from guitarist Gabor Szabo's tune, which is best known from its brief appearance at the end of Santana's hit, "Black Magic Woman." Shrieve's unit contains trumpeter John Fricke, offering a taste of 70s-era Miles, organist Joe Doria, guitarist Danny Godinez and bassist Farko Dosumov—all fellow Seattle residents. The band has a standing Monday night gig at the Seattle club Tost, where this exceptionally fine performance was recorded during February 2008.

Shrieve offers up some familiarity by reacquainting his audience with his own excellent "Every Step of the Way" and Gene Ammons' "Jungle Strut." While both retain their classic Santana groove, Shrieve gets to show off his young band's intriguing personality by revealing some genuinely exciting playing. Shrieve also revisits his own "Moon Over You" and the unusual "Gole Sangem," a tune he first explored in 1994. Two out-of-the-blue but convincingly appropriate selections surface from bassist Marc Johnson's Right Brain Patrol (JMT, 1993)—"Inside Four Walls" and "They Love Me Fifteen Feet Away."

This disc's highlight, though, is undoubtedly Godinez's beautiful "Flamingo," whose open-ended structure recalls Szabo's Latinesque melodic jam themes (e.g., "A Thousand Times"). Godinez sounds positively inspired and inspiring here and beautifully works in appropriate kudos to George Benson's "Affirmation" as well.

Both Doria and Godinez get the lion's share of solos, which is fine, given their exceptional talent. Organist Doria is an ideal accompanist, crossing the spacey near-free otherworldliness of Larry Young with the strong rock-ish foundation of Gregg Rollie. Guitarist Godinez has quite the career ahead of him, if this disc is any indication. He is a thoughtful and engaging player that pays props to the past (Santana, Larry Coryell, Szabo, Benson, Pat Metheny) while making it clear that he's got something of his own to say. Few organ/guitar/drum groups have been this stimulating since John Abercrombie's association with Dan Wall and Adam Nussbaum.

While Live at Tost is an excellent—if sadly too brief—introduction to this band, it only scratches the surface of what is hoped will be the start of something beautiful (their version of "Spellbinder," which is not heard here, is indeed spellbinding)—a long and well-recorded career for Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder.

it is REALLY good!

you can get it at CD baby or go to Michael Shrieve website.
www.michaelshrieve.com/



MORE SHRIEVE INFO...



Michael Shrieve
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


Michael Shrieve (born July 6, 1949, in San Francisco) is a U.S. drummer, percussionist, and later, an electronic music composer. His name is included on the alumni "Wall of Fame" at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Redwood City, California. He is an alum of Junípero Serra High School.




History

Michael Shrieve is best-known as the drummer in an early lineup of Carlos Santana's band, Santana, and for his performance at the 1969 Woodstock festival, when he was just 20 years old (he turned 20 on July 6 of that year; he was the youngest musician to perform at the festival). He left the original Santana band to pursue solo projects. One little-known but worthy effort was his drumming in the 1976 release of Automatic Man, with guitarist Pat Thrall.

He also played in the band Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (with Sammy Hagar, Neal Schon, and Kenny Aaronson).

In addition, he played drums on (former Supertramp member) Roger Hodgson's first solo album, In the Eye of the Storm.

From 1979 to 1984, he collaborated as a percussionist in Richard Wahnfried, a side project of Klaus Schulze (another drummer turned electronic composer) while recording with Schulze his own first "solo" album of electronic music, Transfer Station Blue, in 1984.

He has also collaborated with David Beal, Andy Summers, Steve Roach, Stomu Yamashta, Jonas Hellborg, Buckethead, Douglas September, and others.

In 2001, he appeared on the Revolution Void album Increase the Dosage.

He currently lives in Seattle, Washington, and plays in his fusion jazz group, Spellbinder, at TōST in Fremont, Seattle, with Danny Godinez, Joe Doria, John Fricke, and Farko Dosumov.

Discography

Drummer

(This is a partial discography.)

bLUE MEANS i HAVE COPIES FOR SALE AT AMAZON

* (1969) with Santana — Santana (drums)
* (1970) with Santana — Abraxas (drums)



* (1971) with Santana — Santana III (drums) * (1972) with Santana — Caravanserai (drums) * (1973) with Santana — Welcome (drums) * (1974) with Santana — Borboletta (drums)
* (1973) with Santana - LOTUS LIVE IN JAPAN * (1973) with Santana/ MCLAUGHLIN -- LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER
* (1976) with Automatic Man
* (1976) with Go/Stomu Yamashta
* (1979) with Richard Wahnfried — Time Actor (percussion)
* (1981) with Novo Combo — Novo Combo (drums)
* (1981) with Richard Wahnfried — Tonwelle (drums)
* (1982) with Novo Combo — Animation Generation (drums)
* (1984) with Richard Wahnfried — Megatone (percussion)
* (1984) with Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve (HSAS) — Through the Fire (drums)
* (1984) with Roger Hodgson — In the Eye of the Storm (drums)
* (1993) with Jonas Hellborg and Buckethead — Octave of the Holy Innocents (drums)
* (1997) with Abraxas Pool — "Abraxas Pool" (drums)
* (2004) with Revolution Void — Increase the Dosage (drums) (one track)

Composer

* (1984) Transfer Station Blue (with Kevin Shrieve & Klaus Schulze, recorded 1979–83)
* (1989) The Big Picture (with David Beal)
* (1989) Stiletto (with Mark Isham, David Torn, Andy Summers, & Terje Gewelt)
* (1989) The Leaving Time (with Steve Roach)
* (1995) Two Doors (with Jonas Hellborg & Shawn Lane)
* (2001) Fascination (with Bill Frisell & Wayne Horvitz)
* (2005) Oracle (with Amon Tobin) Available only on iTunes
* (2006) Drums of Compassion (with Jeff Greinke, Jack DeJohnette, Zakir Hussain, & Airto Moreira)
* (2009) Michael Shrieve's Spellbinder Live at Tost

Jacek Kochan

http://www.jacekkochan.com/


Jacek Kochan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacek_Kochan


Jacek Kochan is a Polish born drummer, composer, arranger and music producer. After having started his adventures in music in Poland in the seventies he moved in the early eighties first to New York and then to Canada. There he worked with among many others Michel Donato, Karen Young, Andrew Leroux, Yannick Rieu, Oliver Jones, Jean-Pierre Zanella, Michel Cusson, John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Pat Labarbera and Kenny Wheeler[citation needed].

In 1995 he returned to Europe where he continues to compose, play, tour and record music with artists like Dave Liebman, Greg Osby, Marc Copland, Gary Thomas, Joey Calderazzo, Palle Mikkelborg and Eddie Henderson. Kochan has released several albums as a leader[citation needed]. Among those are "One eyed horse" (2004) and "Yearning" (2006).









http://www.polishjazz.com/pjn/profiles/kochan.htm





Jacek Kochan is a monster drummer.

Born in Poland, he has been active in the musical scenes of Poland, USA, and Canada since the late 1970s. He is also an arranger, imaginative composer and music producer, but most of all - a superior drummer. His very distinctive modern drumming style is jam-packed and full of rhythmical gradations with stylistic references from the whole history of jazz. He is fully aware of versatile jazz and contemporary music traditions, but at the same time is completely immersed in contemporary fusion, funk, electronic and club beats. He is also very fluent in the language of free jazz, but in contrary to many others modern European drummers, he has no complex of avant-guard. He is a master of sound sampling, and has an exceptional gift of time and style. His smart and intelligent music is filled with nuances, full of space, with layers of acoustic and electronic sounds, and complex textures. As a drummer he does not over-emphasize the role of his instrument, but in contrary he focuses on collective sound, melodies, adventurous arrangements, original harmonies and rhythms.

Kochan's astonishing improvisational creativity makes him one of the most highly regarded and in-demand drummers on the Polish and European jazz scenes. His music engages the listeners, keeps them interested, sometimes puzzled, but always longing for more. Furthermore, Kochan excels in a recording studio environment, where he is able to masterfully utilize many wonders of the modern recording technologies, and at the same time able to restrain himself from the traps of artificial apparatus.

During the last decades, Kochan has played with many of the most important figures of American and European jazz. The list is too long to quote, but he is primarily an accomplished leader of a variety of his own bands. As a leader Kochan continuously encourages other band members to express their artistic creativity, and at the same time, he stays in charge of the band's musical direction and style, always leaving no doubt that the final creative output is his own.
Biography:

Jacek Kochan, composer, arranger, producer and drummer begun his adventure with music in seventies.

In early 80-ties he moved to New York. There he have played and recorded with jazz, funk and r&b bands and studied among the others.with Jaco Pastorius, Mike Clark, Robbie Gonzales.

By the mid 80's, Jacek moved to Montreal, where he further expanded his musical lexicon to include writing for choirs and orchestra (Tudor Singers, Repercussion) as well as playing and recording ethnic music (latin , african , balkan). There he worked with Michel Donato, Karen Young, Andrew Leroux, Yannick Rieu, Oliver Jones, Jean-Pierrre Zanella, Michel Cusson, Katleen Dyson, Helmut Lipsky, Lazaro Saucedo, Geoff Lapp, Johnny Scott and many others, perfoming at the clubs and jazz festivals.

In 1990 , after moving to Toronto, he started to work as a leader and sideman in countless live and recording projects with artists like John Abercrombie, Jerry Bergonzi, Pat Labarbera, Kenny Wheeler, Don Thompson, Mike Murley, Neil Swainson, Reggie Schwager, Lorne Lofsky, Bernie Senensky, John MacLeod, Dave Restivo and Brian Dickinson.

In 1995 he returned to Europe where he continues to compose, play, tour and record music with artists like Dave Liebman, Greg Osby, Marc Copland, Gary Thomas, Joey Calderazzo, Palle Mikkelborg, Eddie Henderson, Dave Tronzo, Briggan Krauss, Cuong Vu, Eric Vloeimans, Lars Danielsson, Dave Fiuczynski, Bo Stief, Christian Spering, Michel Benita, Furio DiCastri, Franz Hautzinger, Klaus Dickbauer , Eddie Schuller, Uchihashi Kazuhisa, Axel Dorner, Ernesto Molinari, Francois Corneloup, Krzysztof Knittel, Skerik, Tomas Stanko, Zbigniew Namyslowski, Adam Pieronczyk, Piotr Wojtasik, Assif Tsahar, Tomasz Szukalski, Maciej Sikala and Piotr Baron.









Jacek Kochan ...... Double Life of a Chair (Mikkelborg)





Polish drum wiz, groove-king and multi-bandleader has upwards of a dozen discs out, each with different personnel from around the world, as well as some of downtown's best (Tronzo & Krauss here). Jacek seems to dig trumpet players and has worked with Kenny Wheeler, Cuong Vu, Eric Vloeimans, Franz Hautzinger and here he uses ECM great Palle Mikkelborg. This disc features a fine seven-piece band, the largest assemblage Jacek has recorded so far. Jacek works his wonders setting up sly, spacey, somewhat funky grooves that players can add their tones and colors to and solo on occasion. Often these slamming grooves push the soloists to come up with something different than what they are use to in their own situations. With so many fine musicians Jacek often selects melodic patterns that violin and accordion or the guitar and sax can add their harmonies to. Both Tronzo and Briggan Krause contribute one short piece each, mainly a solo interlude. On a couple of tracks Jacek sets up a quiet, spacious, slow groove so that Palle's muted trumpet and Tronzo's ultra subtle guitar can float on top. Rather than just set up some all-star jam sessions, Jacek works out each piece in advance so that the groove and background textures or loops provide a different challenge on each piece. I find Jacek Kochan to be more consistently successful than Nils Petter Molvaer who often provides a similar set-up, yet his results I find often less-than-engaging.




I just got hip to Polish drum-king Kochen in the last year or so, Actually I had an earlier CD of his "Corporate Highlanders" but it just had not registered that this guy would be a monster writer and bandleader.
Kochen has put out in the last few years a couple dates that are on my "heavy rotation" list....


JACEK KOCHAN:
DOUBLE LIFE OF A CHAIR
GOWI RECORDS, CDG 55(CD)
(P)(C)2002 GOWI RECORDS, POLAND
RELEASED: 2002, POLAND
J-ISSUED: BOMBA RECORDS, BOM22162(CD)
RELEASED: 2002, JAPAN

CREDITS (productions) :
All arrangements by Jacek Kochan
Produced by Jacek Kochan; Executive Producer: Zdzislaw Gogulski
Recorded by Rene Cambony at Grapehouse, Copenhagen,
Tomek Dukszta at Chrost Studio, Waeszawa,
Jacek Gawlowski at Q-Sound, Waeszawa, Norbert Blacha at Studio B1, Gliwice
Mixed and mastered at Grapehouse by Rene Cambony and Jacek Kochan
Design and original art by Marta Kochan
Jacek Kochan plays Sabian Cymbals

CREDITS (musicians) :

Jacek Kochan : drums, bass, keyboards, loops, sampler
Palle Mikkelborg : trumpet
Dave Tronzo : guitar
Briggan Krauss : alto saxophone
Anthony Alexander : acoustic piano, electric piano
Henryk Gembalski : violin
Slawek Jaskulke : accordion


TRACKS (total time 57:45) :
1. Alberta (8:34) [Jacek Kochan]
2. Momentations (1:31) [David Tronzo]
3. Indiano (5:51) [Jacek Kochan]
4. What About Them Penguins On Hudson Pkwy (4:04) [Jacek Kochan]
5. Tjame (5:39) [Jacek Kochan]
6. El Toro (7:13) [Jacek Kochan]
7. WHat's Left (3:25) [Jacek Kochan]
8. Gash (4:46) [Jacek Kochan]
9. Day In Apparatus (:55) [Briggan Krauss]
10. Corporate Highlanders (5:59) [Jacek Kochan]
11. Kowloon (7:31) [Jacek Kochan]
12. If You Went That Far (1:42) [Jacek Kochan]


Kochen's "Double Life of a Chair" features one of my all-time favorite players The underrated danish trumpet Monster Palle Mikkelborg. Now, I can go on about Palle Mikkelborg but suffice to say if you dig the things Nels Petter Molvaer, Erik Truffaz and Jon Hassell are doing some of the sounds are due to this master!
"Chair" also features a killer varied cast (see above) with to me the big surprise is slide player Dave Tronzo playing at times what for him is a pretty straight guitar.
Alberta the sessions opener features Mikkelborgs muted sounds. Its beautiful, dreamy "fourth world" stuff with electronic weirdness adding tension.
Momentations, is an interlude with Tronzo's slide floating in space...Indiano is back to the ensemble, dark and foreboding but with a funky thang. Can you get with some Laswell?
Other highlights include Gash with Briggan Krauss's ripping sax over "space-age" sounds!
The for-mentioned Ms Krauss kicks in with a composition "Day In Apparatus" which is melded into Kochen's composition "Corporate Highlanders". The re-working is funky and harsh, with tripped out background electronics and a twisted string section. Kochen even add's accordion to the mix...its kitchen sink time and it works well.
Kowloon brings us back to earth, with the sound at time similar to Molvaers "Khmer" but there's more here. A whole different flavor is added with violins (real one's!) just texture here.
If You Went That Far..closes the set, and it ask's a good question...ripping ripping ripping. Jay D.



"New Expensive head"
Bomba Records BOM 22177, GOWI Records CDG 58

Jacek Kochan - drums, bass, keys, samplers, loops,
Cuong Vu - trumpet, trumpet fxs,
Skerik - tenor sax, sax fxs,
Eivind Aarset - guitar, guitar fxs

1. More (Kochan)
2. Part Time Vip (Kochan)
3. New Expensive Head (Kochan)
4. Less (Kochan)
5. Nott: Chain of Being (Kochan)
6. Lai-sien-kee (Kochan)
7. Mo Bu (Kochan)
8. Three Dollars Wiser (Kochan)
9. Faast (Kochan)
10. Scout's Inamorata (Kochan)


New Expensive head opens with a bang....More is more, as with Kochen's 02 release, "Double Life of a Chair" you can tell that Kochens been listening to the ground breaking Norwegian trumpeter Nel Petter Molvaer. In fact for "New Expensive head" Kochan
has added Molvaers right-hand man Eivind Aarset to bring his signature sound to the project.
But that's not to say Kochen merely "apes" molvaer's sound...far from it. Kochan is way further out than Molvaer, a somewhat more "difficult listen at times. As with his earlier project "chair" Kochan has brought in a Reed player with a fat, full ripping sound.
On Head its the up and coming Skerik, who clearly has been listening to late period Coltrane as well as Pharoah and Ayler.
Its an interesting mix with an avant ripping sax over layers of electronics.
This is definitely one of my favorites of late. Jay D.






some vid links....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ww8bI-NuRT8


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaXHi_ZLaAA


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0XwzKxiffY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddUk80lxCis


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDrpOmu8cEQ