16 July 2010

Day
(mostly night) 2 of the Nickelsdorf Konfrontationen is pretty
incredible. Had to miss Roscoe Mitchell solo in the afternoon in
order to be at the soundcheck for The Thing XL, but by all accounts
it was an amazing show. Sets in the evening: Augusti
Fernandez/Ingebrigt Haker Flaten/Paul Lovens Trio (driving
post-Schlippenbach Trio improvisations); Christine Sehnaoui/Andy Moor
Duo (strong texture-based playing); Swedish Azz (w/dieb13, Erik
Carlsson, MatsGustafsson, Per-Ake Holmlander, Kjell Nordeson) [nice
arrangements, though I preferred the playing to the concept of
integrating recordings of classic Jazz sides from mid 50s/60s
Sweden with their deconstruction]; the Ethiopian Trio of Chalachew
Ashenafi/MeseleAsmamaw/Mesale Legesse (the first half of the concert
was marred by constant feedback in the PA, but when Kat Bornefeld sat
in midway, and from that point on [when the feedback cleared], their
set was burning); The Thing XL (Mats Gustafsson/Ingebrigt Haker
Flaten/PaalNilssen-Love/Johannes Bauer/Terrie Hessels/Joe McPhee/Ken
Vandermark (a massive sound attack that kept its focus and dynamic
range- hard to folow Chalachew and crew, but somehow it worked
out…). Footage of me with The Thing as a quartet from Kongsberg
2008: