Album coverage: “Broadcast Transformer” and “This Is Not A Holiday”
The process of creating new work and documenting it has been essential to me for decades, driven by periods early on when both were difficult and the knowledge that Herbie Nichols, one of the composer/improviser icons in my field, had so little of his music recorded (in addition, though he wrote and played music for horn players, there is only a chronicle of his trio material). So, it’s gratifying that two of my most recent albums, by Edition Redux and the duo with Terrie Ex, have recently obtained strong reviews, thanks to Paul Acquaro and Eyal Hareuveni for the insightful coverage:
Edition Redux, “Broadcast Transformer” (Audiographic Records)“
When one approaches a new release from woodwindist Ken Vandermark there is a temptation to deconstruct the influences… Suffice to say, at some point, it is easy to let the titles simply be titles and just enjoy the music and what one hears is as excellent as one can wish for. Edition Redux seems especially special, as its scene setting suites provide sweeping musical vistas with noteworthy sights that take inspiration from consummate sources.” -Paul Acquaro, The Free Jazz Collective: https://www.freejazzblog.org/2025/04/editions-redux-broadcast-transformer.html
Ken Vandermark & Terrie Ex, “This Is Not A Holiday” (Terp Records)
“Vandermark and Ex walk on a thin wire while using all kinds of acrobatic tricks that aim to push themselves out of any comfort zone. They tease and inspire each other, throw sudden curveballs and short-circuit the interplay, cause chaotic panic, then restore some sort of intuitive order, and insist that we all should be considering spending our holiday savings on their next tour.” – Eyal Hareuveni, Salt Peanuts: https://salt-peanuts.eu/record/ken-vandermark-terrie-ex/
There are still some copies of the limited pressing of “Broadcast Transformer” available at Catalytic Sound (link to purchase: https://vandermark1.bandcamp.com/album/broadcast-transformer), and Terrie has copies of the “This Is Not A Holiday” LP at: https://exmailorder.nl/shop/thisisnotaholiday
[cover art for “Broadcast Transformer” by Beth McDonald, photo of Terrie Ex & Ken Vandermark by Geert Vandepoele, cover art for “This Is Not A Holiday” by Emma Fischer]