Alliance for Improvised Music

  
FRANK GRATKOWSKI w/ the MICRO-EAST COLLECTIVE
(one set solo, one set collaboration)
part of AIM's Double Eye series
Cat's Cradle, Carrboro
Wed, Nov 29, 9:30 pm, $10

This should be a heck of a show. World-renowned reeds player Gratkowski is famous for his wide-ranging (and award-winning) solo performances. His influences come mainly from the avant-garde (e.g. Anthony Braxton, Evan Parker) while his teachers have impeccable straight jazz credentials (Charlie Mariano, Sal Nistico). Although they are not that similar, Frank's in/out sensibilities are reminiscent of a man he cites as both influence and teacher -- Steve Lacy. _The Improvisor_ (LaDonna Smith's music mag which you can find at www.the-improvisor.com) hailed "Gestalten", Gratkowski's recent trio disk with Gerry Hemingway and Dieter Manderscheid. The review notes Gratkowski's "exciting originality", his similarities to Braxton and Derek Bailey, and that his bass clarinet work "promises to set a new standard on the instrument."

In addition to his solo work, Gratkowski is well-experienced in large ensemble playing, with stints in Georg Graewe's GrubenKlang Orchestra, Tony Oxley's Celebration Orchestra, the WDR Big Band, and the Klaus Kunig Orchestra. Take his own solo, duo, and trio cd's (mostly on Random Acoustics), add in recording/performance stints in duos, trios and other small groups with Graewe, Melvyn Poore, Peter Kowald, John Butcher, Kenny Wheeler, Greg Osby, Paul Lovens, Phil Wachsmann, Jane Ira Bloom, Muhal Richard Abrams, Ernst Reijsiger and many more, and it's clear this is a player ready to put his stamp on the music.

(For more info, check out www.gratkowski.com and www.randomacoustics.de/artists/fs_03.html)

The Micro-East Collective was just called "one of the coolest bands in the Triangle" by the Independent (www.indyweek.com). They sometimes call themselves a village orchestra for the 21st Century. The MEC consists of some of the finest improvisors in the Triangle, drawing musicians from jazz, classical, and rock backgrounds. Each musician contributes compositions around which the MEC builds its improvisations.

It had been a while since I'd done a web search on these guys, so I was a bit surprised to find a ton of links. In reviewing their _Out of My Face_ cd (Umbrella Recordings), All About Jazz (www.allaboutjazz.com) wrote: "Out Of My Face is often fascinating if somewhat unclassifiable. Needless to state, these folks are on to something here as the vibrancy, startling chemistry and elevated degree of musicianship will more than likely impart a permanent inscription or impression on one's psyche! .......Recommended * * * *"

And LA Weekly wrote a positive (though rather strange) review, there was a nice thread on Jazz Corner (references to Zorn, Cage, Xennakis, Ligeti). Ink 19, another online music mag, noted that the MEC "can sound as dense as a symphony and as dexterous as a trio." And of course you can visit their page on the Umbrella Recordings website (www.umbrellarecordings.com/micro-east) which also features some music downloads.

So I hope to see everyone at the Cradle on Wednesday for what promises to be one of the finest shows of the year. There will also be a small house show/party on Tuesday night, featuring some solo work from Frank along with some small group work with members of MEC. There may be a couple spaces left, so e-mail me if you're interested in that.

This is the third performance in AIM's Double Eye series, which focuses on international improvisers. Previous shows featured Han Bennink (w/Eugene Chadbourne), Paul Lovens (w/ Eugene), and Carl-Lduwig Huebsch & Hal Kimmig.

---Walt Davis

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