[Pdxevents] Wednesday! CMG presents Steve Swell's Slammin' the Infinite

[Jonathan Sielaff]

This show begins at 8 p.m. ...

On Oct 9, 2007, at 9:57 AM, Creative Music Guild wrote:

> The CREATIVE MUSIC GUILD is very proud to present
>
> ~  Steve Swell's Slammin' the Infinite ~
>
> in concert on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, at Holocene, 1001 S.E.
> Morrison, Portland. Tickets will be available at the door on the
> day of the performance only and are $15 general admission / $12 for
> Creative Music Guild members and students with ID.
>
> This is a a 21-and over show.
>
> Slammin' the Infinite
>
> Trombonist, composer and educator Steve Swell's Slammin' the
> Infinite quartet has been called "one of the most powerful
> collective voices in jazz right now" by Signal to Noise magazine.
> Sabir Mateen's deep and torrential sax playing, the heavy and
> precise drumming of Michael Wimberly, the responsive and driving
> bass playing of Matt Heyner, and Swell's own emotional-driven and
> technique-laden performance make for an explosive combination of
> elements. Swell's compositions for this group bridge the gap
> between '60s free jazz and today's creative improvised music in
> that they give plenty of space for the group to explore the outer
> reaches of their instruments and playing while providing a clear
> direction for each tune. Though this group's reputation is that of
> a fiery, free-blowing quartet, they are not cranked to volume 11
> all the time. Many of their pieces feature long written horn lines,
> contemplative playing and the combing and recombining of duos and
> trios within the group that makes for the best in ensemble playing.
> Slammin' the Infinite has released three CDs:  2006's Live at the
> Vision Festival, 2005's Remember Now and a self-titled disc in 2003.
>
> About the Musicians:
>
> Steve Swell, Trombone
>
> To list the musicians Steve Swell has collaborated with since he
> came to prominence in 1985 is to list most of the avant jazz greats
> -- and a couple of straight jazz legends -- of the past 20 years:
> Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Anthony Braxton, Cecil Taylor, William
> Parker, Roswell Rudd, Paul Flaherty, Alan Silva, Jemeel Moondoc,
> Nate Wooley, Roy Campbell, Hamid Drake, Joe McPhee, and Matthew
> Ship. This list speaks volumes about the stature of Swell among his
> fellow musicians. Add to this the fact that Swell has led or co-led
> over 20 recordings and appeared on over 70 additional releases and
> you have the resume of a truly accomplished musician. Swell also
> has taught at the New England Conservatory and in the New York City
> public schools as an artist in residence, and has appeared at
> festivals throughout the world. In a recent cover article, Signal
> to Noise magazine says that Swell "communicates ... powerfully and
> naturally using the untempered sounds, extended timbral palette and
> wildly stretched melodic countours."
>
>  Sabir Mateen, Tenor Saxophone
>
> Sabir Mateen has been called "Simply one of the deepest players in
> the free jazz idiom today" by Signal to Noise. He has been active
> in New York City since 1989, appearing on over forty releases with
> the likes of Sunny Murray, Hamid Drake, Daniel Carter, William
> Parker, Denis Charles, Kidd Jordan, Frode Gjerstad, Dave Burrell,
> and Alan Silva. Mateen is often called a fiery and explosive player
> but is also often noted for his ability to produce logical and
> tasteful solos. He leads several groups as well as performing in
> the cooperative TEST with Carter, Tom Bruno, and Matt Heyner.
>
> Matt Heyner, Bass
>
> Matt Heyner deftly straddles the worlds of free jazz and noise. He
> plays in the improvisational collective The No-Neck Blues Band,
> which has performed at the annual No Fun Fest in New York -- a
> Who's Who of noise artists. Heyner plays in TEST with Mateen,
> Daniel Carter, and Tom Bruno, a group that has been called "the
> true embodiment of creative improvised music." Heyner has also
> performed with many notable musicians including Thurston Moore,
> Chris Corsano, and Paul Flaherty.
>
> Michael Wimberly, Drums
>
> Michael Wimberly is probably best known for his work with
> saxophonist Charles Gayle on such releases as Consecration and
> Berlin Movement for Future Years. On these discs Wimberly keeps a
> frantic beat, which perfectly suits the over-the-top playing of
> Gayle.  Wimberly's playing is heavy and precise -- pulling an
> almost rock-like sound from his drums. Though he plays in such free-
> blowing groups as Exuberance (with Louis Belogenis, Roy Campbell,
> and Hilliard Greene), he is also noted for the control he retains
> despite the intensity of his playing. Wimberly has also worked with
> the likes of Oluyemi Thomas, William Parker, Ivo Perelman, Joe
> McPhee, Bobby Few, and Noah Howard.
>
> Upcoming CMG Shows:
>
> October 21: Trevor Watts and Jamie Harris at Valentine's (232 S.W.
> Ankeny) -- A CMG sponsored event
>
> November 30: Achim Kauffmann, Frank Gratkowski, Wilbert De Joode
> (This show is free to CMG members!)
>
>  For information about upcoming shows go to
> www.creativemusicguild.org.
> The Creative Music Guild would like to thank Willamette Week for
> their continued sponsorship.
>
> Special thanks to Quango Inc. for their help with the mailer.
>
> About the Creative Music Guild
>
> CMG is an all-volunteer non-profit organization that has presented
> the best in jazz-related music since 1991. Play a part in bringing
> uncompromising creative music to Portland by volunteering, becoming
> a member or coming to the shows! Please consider volunteering. We
> need people to write grants, find local sponsors, run the website
> and more. Your contribution will ensure that the Creative Music
> Guild continues to present the best improv music on the West Coast!
>
> ******************************************
> Creative Music Guild
> PO Box 40564
> Portland, OR 97240-0564
> http://www.creativemusicguild.org
>
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