Ken Vandermark/ Paal Nilssen Love - Chicago Volume

TRACKLISTING: (1) New Paper (21:48) (2) Text Of Sound (7:52)  (3) Mort Subite (32:10)

OVERVIEW: Their two first duo albums “Dual Pleasure” (2002) and the sequel (the double) “Dual Pleasure 2” (2004) both received rave reviews when they were released. The third album “Seven” is one of the best albums we`ve put out on Smalltown Superjazz. A diamond in our catalogue. It is therefore with great pleasure that we present 2 new albums from Paal Nilssen-Love and Ken Vandermark. Recorded the 10th and the 11th of June 2007 in Milwaukee and Chicago, these two albums show you the true genius of improvisation and the pure art of spontaneous music. Instead of making a double album we decided together with the artists to make 2 separate albums with Ken Vandermarks beautiful photos from the cities the albums were recorded in, all designed by Rune Mortensen. This way the albums become post-cards from the cities with a beautiful, epic, warm and groovy free jazz as the soundtrack. Enjoy!

Vandermark and Nilssen-Love started their collaboration in 2000 when the group School Days was formed. One year later they started FME, a trio with bass player Nate McBride. After this it seemed very natural to define a duo. The first occasion for this format was when they recorded the CD “Dual Pleasure” for Smalltown Superjazz in Oslo during the summer of 2002. Shortly after this they performed their first duo concert at Molde International Jazz Festival. Their musical expression results from the influence of several traditions, both geographic and historical. In this duo, Vandermark and Nilssen-Love use free improvisation as a means to explore all levels of dynamics, density, rhythm, timbre, form and tonality. The results of their work are experienced as intense, exhilarating, and boundary breaking. Raw music with brutal beauty!

Ken Vandermark was born in Warwick, Rhode Island. Since 1982 he has been seriously exploring the possibilities of improvised music. Vandermark is known for the work with his own quintet the Vandermark 5, the Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet, the Territory Band, Spaceways Inc., and the DKV Trio. In 1999 Vandermark was awarded the MacArthur Fellowship, previous recipients of this prize in the field of music include Cecil Taylor, Anthony Braxton and Max Roach. He has also been voted ”Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” in the critic's poll of the American jazz magazine Down Beat, both as composer and as a tenor saxophonist, every year since 2000. Aside from the schools of music influenced by the history of jazz, his music has been greatly impacted by sources like “Mississippi” Fred McDowell, James Brown, John Cage, the Ex, Gyorgy Ligeti, Sly and the Family Stone.

Paal Nilssen-Love was born in Stavanger on the west coast of Norway, but he now lives in Oslo. Nilssen-Love has, during the last couple of years, established himself on the international scene as a powerful drummer with high energy and creativity. In 2002 he was "Artist in Residence" at Molde International Jazz Festival, a title Chick Corea and Pat Metheny held in previous years. After 7 days and 9 concerts at the festival, Down Beat stated, "His week at Molde proved a revelation: Nilssen-Love is one of the most innovative, dynamic and versatile drummers in jazz." He is part of The Thing (together with Mats Gustafsson and Joe McPhee), Original Silence (with Thurston Moore, Mats Gustafsson, Terry The Ex, Jim O`Rourke and Massio Zu) and Scorch Trio (with Raoul Björkenheim)

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