Favorite Ken Vandermark albums

[Felix]

He's done so many it can be a bit confusing for the newcomer. It won't be hard listing my top 10, since I only own ten of his discs. They are:

DKV Trio: Live in Wels and Chicago (Okkadisk, 1998).
Sound in Action Trio: Design in Time (Delmark, 1999).
School Days: Crossing Division (Okkadisk, 2000).
Vandermark 5: Free Jazz Classics vols. 1 & 2 (Atavistic, 2000-01).
Vandermark 5: Free Jazz Classics vols. 3 & 4 (Atavistic, 2003-04).
Free Fall: Furnace (Wobbly Rail, 2002).
Tripleplay: Gambit (Clean Feed, 2003).
FME: Underground (Okkadisk, 2003).
FME: Cuts (Okkadisk, 2004).
Vandermark 5: The Color of Memory (Atavistic, 2004).

List your favorites.

[rollhead]

I only have a couple, but the "Color of Money" is my favorite of the two ... whoops, I meant Simpatico. I have "Color of Money" on my "to-buy" list.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

AALY Trio Live at the Glenn Miller Cafe with Ken Vandemark (Wobbly Rail, 1999)

[rollhead]

[IMG]AALY Trio Live at the Glenn Miller Cafe with Ken Vandemark (Wobbly Rail, 1999)

Is that CD still available anywhere, Steve? I looked it up on amazon.com, and it was only available through third-party dealers -- at $55 a copy.

(I just e-mailed Wobbly Rail to ask.)

[Rob C]

I used to be kind of lukewarm on Vandermark, but I think he's been on a real roll lately, esp. with FME and the Territory Band projects. Some that I like a lot are:

FME-Cuts (to me, maybe the best playing--as opposed to composing or conceptualizing--I've heard from him)
V5-The Color of Memory
Territory Band-2-Atlas
Territory Band-3-Map Theory
Territory Band-4-Company Switch
Atomic/School Days-Nuclear Assembly Hall
DKV-Wels/Chicago
AALY-Live at Glenn Miller Cafe
Brotzmann Tentet-the 3-disc set on Okka

I know some of these aren't strictly Vandermark projects, but I think he is a pretty essential component of the Atomic/SD and Tentet bands.

I picked up FME's Underground recently, but haven't listened yet. Looking forward to it though. Also curious to hear CINC, the trio w/ Wachsmann and Lytton.

This thread reminds me, I saw Atomic/School Days play at the Green Mill recently (recorded for a forthcoming live disc!). There were four of us in our group: two of us pretty familiar with the scene, one a friend of mine who'd listened to some Atomic, but who was otherwise not that familiar, and then a friend of his who didn't know anything about the music beforehand.

Anyway, between sets, I was asking the new guy what he thought of the band, and, since he didn't know the cats' names, every time he'd talk about Vandermark, he just referred to him as "the alpha male guy".

[Felix]

I also have the two Wobbly Rail AALY Trio w/Vandermark releases and I've been meaning to pick up Simpatico for a while.

If I had to list the ones I own according to preference, I'd give the first positions to The Color of Memory, FME's Cuts and maybe Design in Time. I like the Free Jazz Classics a lot, but I suppose you could consider them a bit outisde Vandermark's main output (in the liner notes to Vols. 3 & 4, he said he wouldn't tackle the "repertoire" anymore). Free Fall is an interesting group, born of the meeting between him and the Atomic guys, and since he sticks to clarinets on Furnace, it goes a long way to prove that he's more than an "energy" player.

Cinc. are playing at Suoni per il Popolo here this weekend, but I bought tickets to see FME instead. I saw them during the past year and, live, they're undoubtedly one of the most exhilarating bands to see.

[Sergio Zamora]

Ditto.

Probably followed DKV Wels/Chicago.

Also,
that first duet he did with Paal Nillssen-Love
Spaceways Inc - Version Soul
The Territory Band releases (haven't heard the new one sans Drumm)
Brotzmann Tentet - Stone/Water
V5 - Simpatico

I recall his portions of Misha Mengelberg's 'Two Days in Chicago' was quite good, though I haven't spun it in a while. Maybe I should.

I know V5 has a lot of fans , but I've been reluctant to pick up more because they're all so similar. Still, some posters on *this* board who do know their stuff have given props to the new one, so I might pick it up at some point.

[moonra]

In no particular order my top 10:

dkv trio: Trigonometry
dkv: Live in Wels & Chicago, 1998
kv: Ideas
kv: Furniture Music
Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet: Stone/Water
spaceways Inc.: 13 Cosmic Standards
spaceways: Radiale
5: Airports For Light
5: Simpatico
5: Single Piece Flow

[jasonguthartz]

something I posted to another board:

If you've plunged into "Alchemia" you may find it interesting to hear the earlier releases with Mars Williams and/or Jeb's guitar. Otherwise, as a follower since the first proto-V5 gig in early 1996, I can recommend all their discs, though I think those recorded by Bob Weston (the recent Atavistic releases) and Malachi Ritscher (the early, live releases on Savage Sound Syndicate) best reproduce the group's sound.

Some non-V5 highlights from the '90s:
-- Steelwool Trio, "International Front" (Okkadisk, 1994)
-- Vandermark Quartet, "Solid Action" (Platypus, 1994) [the track "Bucket" is a personal fav -- a prototypical KV composition with a sublime tenor solo, up there with his solo on "Cruz Campo" from the V5's "Airports for Light"]
-- Barrage Double Trio, "Utility Hitter" (Quinnah, 1995)
-- AALY Trio + KV, "Hidden in the Stomach" (Silkheart, 1996) [incl. the gorgeous "Why I Don't Go Back"]
-- DKV Trio, "Live in Wels & Chicago" (Okkadisk, 1998)

Of the more recent projects, the School Days, Territory Band & FME releases on Okka (as well as the Brotz 10tet) are strong representations of KV's work within distinct contexts, as is the sole document of his solo music, 2002's "Furniture Music".

a complete discography:
http://tisue.net/vandermark/

I wouldn't add anything other than to say the most recent FME and Territory Band releases are really, really great.
The forthcoming V5 release promises to be excellent as well, with Fred Lonberg-Holm's cello shifting the sonic balance away from horns and toward strings, while bringing back the electric element of the early V5. There is also more solo material forthcoming, based on a series of concerts he did with visual artist Richard Hull.

[Dan G]

Glad to see Jason mention these early discs. I think they get overlooked, but they are pretty good records, especially Utility Hitter. I'm also quite fond of the Caffeine disc with Jim Baker, and there's an interesting NRG Ensemble disc on Quinnah too (can't remember name...). It may not be as great as the Hal Russell NRGs, but in terms of high energy jazz, pretty darn good.

Though Ken is a relatively big name now, I'm not sure how many people know that he really came out quickly with some great material not under his own name. I haven't heard much of his recent work, pretty much giving up part way through the V5 run.

[Rob C]

I haven't heard much of his recent work, pretty much giving up part way through the V5 run.

You should check out FME and/or the Territory Band. The V5 is quite a good band, but these are where KV really stretches out, playing-wise and conceptually, respectively.

[Dan G]

You should check out FME and/or the Territory Band. The V5 is quite a good band, but these are where KV really stretches out, playing-wise and conceptually, respectively.

Yeah, I should probably try Territory Band. I have most of the Brotzmann 10 albums already.
I'd probably have the same feeling about FME as Sergio does.

I just looked at the discography on the website Jason point to: there's at least 75 albums there in about 13 years. Has KV become the new 80s-era David Murray - huge output, lots of good records but we could live with a few less if even a few of the good ones were great ones?

[moonra]

Got the pleasure of catching the Territory Band a little over a year ago, amazing experience. And although Vandermark's presence is known, he takes a back seat within the band, very respectively. The Brotzmann Tentet is another great experiecne with almost the same line-up if I remember correctly.

[jasonguthartz]

Got the pleasure of catching the Territory Band a little over a year ago, amazing experience. And although Vandermark's presence is known, he takes a back seat within the band, very respectively. The Brotzmann Tentet is another great experiecne with almost the same line-up if I remember correctly.

At the moment it seems they only share 4 or 5 members (Vandermark, Kessler, Lonberg-Holm, Nilssen-Love, ?Bishop?):

Territory Band-6 =

Axel Dörner - trumpet
Jeb Bishop - trombone
Fredrik Ljungkvist - reeds
Dave Rempis - reeds
Ken Vandermark - reeds
Lasse Marhaug - electronics
Jim Baker - piano
David Stackenas - guitar
Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello
Kent Kessler - bass
Paul Lytton - percussion
Paul Nilssen-Love - percussion

Brötzmann 10tet =

Joe McPhee - trumpet
Jeb Bishop - trombone (replaced? by Johannes Bauer)
Per-Ake Holmlander - tuba
Peter Brötzmann - reeds
Mats Gustafsson - reeds
Ken Vandermark - reeds
Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello
Kent Kessler - bass
Paal Nilssen-Love - drums
Michael Zerang - drums

The Brötzmann 10tet appears to have been working without any pre-determined structures for a while now (whereas before they performed pieces by its members), while the Territory Band continues to work with Ken's charts exclusively.

Ken has an excellent website which features informative & insightful "Notes From the Field".

[Sergio Zamora]

For some reason, FME just seems like a retread to my ears. Just a free jam session, nothing special or new about it.

[Gary Sisco]

Wels and Chicago
13 Cosmic Standards

[Nim Chimpsky]

Territory Band-6 =

Axel Dörner - trumpet
Jeb Bishop - trombone
Fredrik Ljungkvist - reeds
Dave Rempis - reeds
Ken Vandermark - reeds
Lasse Marhaug - electronics
Jim Baker - piano
David Stackenas - guitar
Fred Lonberg-Holm - cello
Kent Kessler - bass
Paul Lytton - percussion
Paul Nilssen-Love - percussion

Where did you find out that Stackenas is now in the band? His duo with Mats Gustafsson is getting played quite a bit chez moi. The latest line-up I've seen is Ken Vandermark, Fredrik Ljungkvist, Dave Rempis, Axel Dörner, Johannes Bauer, Per-Ake Holmlander, Jim Baker, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Lasse Marhaug, Kent Kessler, Paul Lytton, Paal Nilssen-Love, courtesy of the excellent http://tisue.net/vandermark/

[jasonguthartz]

Where did you find out that Stackenas is now in the band?

This latest version of the Territory Band is playing this summer in Chicago's Millennium Park (with special guest Fred Anderson!) - go here, click on August 24, and you'll see:

Ken Vandermark’s Territory Band connects Chicago with prominent cutting-edge musicians in Scandinavia and premieres new compositions written for legendary Chicago saxophonist Fred Anderson. The musicians' like-minded inventiveness makes for ample freedoms; producing original melodies that can explode at any given moment. Featured musicians include Jeb Bishop and Axel Doerner (brass); Lasse Marhaug (electronics); Paul Lytton and Paal Nilssen-Love (percussion); Jim Baker (piano); Fredrik Ljungkvist, Dave Rempis, and Ken Vandermark (reeds); and Kent Kessler, Fred Lonberg-Holm, and David Stackenas (strings). The concert opens with the Fred Anderson Trio featuring Hamid Drake (drums) and Harrison Bankhead (bass).

BTW, Stackenas' solo disc is phenomenal.

[Frisco]

This latest version of the Territory Band is playing this summer in Chicago's Millennium Park (with special guest Fred Anderson!) - go here, click on August 24, and you'll see:.

August in Chicago is going to be pretty exciting. There's a huge stretch of concerts surrounding the Territory Band. Beginning on August 16, there will be a concert just about every night until the park concert that Jason mentions on the 24th. Many of the groupings haven't been determined yet, but Wed. August 16th at The Hideout is Ken with Lasse Marhaug and Paal Nilssen-Love, along with an electronics duo of Marhaug and Kevin Drumm. Then there is a group at Elastic on the 17th, The Ice Room on the 18th, The Territory Band in Milwaukee on the 19th, a group at Hungry Brain on the 20th, then Empty Bottle on the 22nd, Hideout on the 23rd and the park show and (I'm assuming) an Elastic show on the 24th. A week later, during Jazz Festival, Ken is playing again with Free fall. Ken has the dates up on his website.

[moonra]

I recently attended a solo performance by KV. And personally, I have never been quite huge on solo performances in general, it always been a hit or miss. But I attended more so because it was something to do. HOLY SHIT! KV literally knocked my socks off, I have developed a new respect for KV from that show alone. If anyone gets the opportunity to see KV solo, do yourself a favor and attend!

[Captain Hate]

KV literally knocked my socks off

[sonic1]

I might be alone on this, but I think Airports for Light is a really great album which belongs at the top of any Vandermark list, and I return to it a lot. I have the special edition with covers of Sonny Rollins tunes on a second disk which is also really nice.

[ericdevin]

In no particular order:

Territory Band - Company Switch
Misha Mengelberg - Two Days In Chicago
DKV Trio - OkkaDisk limited CD
V5 - Exercises/Elements - Six Of One is an amazing piece
V5 - Free Jazz Classics 1 & 2
Sound In Action Trio - I forget the name of it - with Mulvenna and Barry
FME - Cuts
Spaceways Inc. - 13 Cosmic Standards
School Days - Crossing Division
and not really an album, but I have a recording of KV with Hamid Drake, Ab Baars and Han Bennink from 1999 live in Chicago that is off the chain.

Eric

[Le Bob]

Have to go with Cuts. It blew my socks off when I finally got a copy last year. The interplay between Ken, Paal, and Nate McBride is just terrific.

[Doc Martin]

My favorite is: “Design in Time” (DELMARK 516) , I surprised it hasn’t been mentioned.

[Root Doctor]

[Gary Sisco]

Yeah, I should have put Acoustic Machine on my list, too. That's another favorite. Gave it a lot of airplay on my show at the time.

Cat makes too many records!

[Felix]

My favorite is: “Design in Time” (DELMARK 516) , I surprised it hasn’t been mentioned.

It was on my list, Doc. I can't wait to hear the new Sound in Action Trio album, Gate, on Atavistic. Here's the track list (from Vandermark's website):

1. Horizontal Fall (for Han Bennink) (Ken Vandermark)
2. The Prophet (Eric Dolphy)
3. Red Cross (for Elvin Jones) (Ken Vandermark)
4. Medium Cool (for Paul Lovens) (Ken Vandermark)
5. Enlightenment (Hobart Dotson/Sun Ra)
6. Togo (Ed Blackwell)
7. Side Car (for Tony Williams) (Ken Vandermark)
8. Slate (for Paul Lytton) (Ken Vandermark)
9. One Down, One Up (John Coltrane)
10. Love Cry (Albert Ayler)
11. House Party Starting (Herbie Nichols)

It should be out in August.

FME is fantastic. I've seen them twice live, and I would never call it a "free jam session" (which I think The Thing is, albeit a great jam band). It achieves what I think is the perfect balance between composition (despite its name, it's a very tight and controlled unit) and improvisation. Nilssen-Love displays an amazing array of drumming techniques, without taking too much space, McBride assures a solid bottom, cementing the ensemble, and Vandermark's playing goes way past the "free jazz saxophonist" cliché. He still uses his trademark free R&Bish solos on tenor and baritone, but his clarinet and bass clarinet seem to take a more central role (and it seems to be the case in V5 as well). Their upcoming album (due sometime this fall) should include the set they played in Montreal last september (?). If it's as good on disc as it was live, the album should be terrific.

[ericdevin]

My favorite is: “Design in Time” (DELMARK 516) , I surprised it hasn’t been mentioned.

That'd be the one; I mentioned it it my post, #18. I don't have the disc with me and I couldn't think of the title.

Best
Eric

[Rob C]

Listening to the new Bridge 61 record, Journal. I love it! These guys are playing here in Chicago tonight, and I was iffy on whether to go or not, but after hearing the record, there's no question that I've got to see them.