Clean Feed Records and Mary Halvorson: Promises of Good Things to Come in Jazz

[Improvised_Communications]

If you’re looking ahead in 2011 at what the year—or the coming decade—holds in jazz, then 2010 gave us two stories that portend thrilling music ahead.

First, there is a relatively new record label that seems dead-set on unleashing the full-on floodgates of adventurous improvised music at every turn. Clean Feed, based in Lisbon and founded in 2001, has become nothing less than a force of nature, releasing exciting music in big, fat batches. Snaring big name artists, yup, and also promoting the little guy, Clean Feed is supernatural. Clean Feed is my hero.

Among the artists showing up on Clean Feed in 2010 (and elsewhere too, importantly) was guitarist Mary Halvorson. Halvorson is the furthest thing from another Berklee-trained pentatonic wonder. She’s all edge and all charm at the same time, someone whose pedigree includes Wesleyan University and Anthony Braxton bands, but also a gentle duo or two. And in 2010 she released what may have been the most surprising—and promising—disc of the year.

Two trends to watch, right here.

Read the rest of Will Layman's article at:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/column/...ember-in-2011/

[Lazaro Vega]

Must be nice for radio stations able to play this adverturesome music....