Northwoods Improvisers - Raft - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

The Northwoods Improvisers return with a new album. Fanfares is the latest effort with a quintet/sextet lineup that includes the veteran rhythm section of Mike Johnston and Nick Ashton and reunites them with a fierce front line of saxophonists Dominic Bierenga and Donovan Boxey, and the strings of Jack O'Brien and Mike Khoury. While the group touches on the spiritual in many ways, they also bring forth fire in the form of the winds duo of Bierenga and Boxey. The music has the strong rhythm section listeners will instantly recognize with Johnston's deep bass lines and Ashton's powerful drumming. Johnston, O'Brien and Khoury form a rich string section enhancing the compositions.

Rudolf Kempe - Symphony No 4 [COMPACT DISCS] date 02/28/2006

Branches represents a slightly different approach for the group. While the Northwoods have collectively used a wide variety of instruments on previous recordings, here they choose to explore the possibilities with the marimba, bass, and drum combination. The album opens with the original composition InchKuntuInch which launches into a high energy 7/8 African groove. Throughout this rich music we hear a generous amount of rhythmic variation, odd time signatures, and polyrhythmic overlays. Another highlight is InchEscarpmentInch an extended piece that draws on the group's free roots and recalls the Art Ensembles' use of sound, space and rhythm. The Northwoods offer a nod to South African pianist and composer Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) with their recording of InchIshmaelInch.