ANKER - TABOR - CLEAVER
Lotte Anker: saxophones; Craig Taborn: piano;
Gerald Cleaver: drums
Seit 7 Jahren leitet die dänische Saxophonistin Lotte Anker dieses transatlantische Trio, dass eine seiner 3 Cds life im Loft einspielte und für eine weitere Aufnahme wieder hier zu Gast ist. „Live at the Loft was nominated as Best New Release-Honorable Mention in AAJ/NY“ Mit Craig Taborn und Gerald Cleaver hat sie sich ein „Dream Team“ zusammengestellt, das überall hoch gepriesen wird und auf fast allen internationalen Jazz Festivals zu Gast war.
ANKER/TABORN/CLEAVER had its premiere in may 2003, where the trio did a very succesful tour in Europe. Since then ACT has been performing at festivals and clubs/concertspaces in Scandinavia, Europe, USA and Canada as well as released the three critically acclaimed CD’s: Triptych LeoRecords 2005), Live at the Loft (ILK-records 2009) and Floating Islands (ILK-records 2009) Live at the Loft was nominated as Best New Release-Honorable Mention in AAJ/NY and Floating Islands nominated as best new Danish release in 2009 on the Danish Site JazzNyt.
The music of is build on a concept of free improvisation- sometimes mixed with compositions/structures for impro by Lotte Anker. The trio has a strong sense of rhythmic structures and form but goes all the way into exploring the wild, poetic, weird, unexpected and hypnotic sides of musical communication. Very intense and adventurous music.
Lotte Anker: tenor-alto-sopranosaxophone & composer
Known for her intense playing and one of the strongest improvisers in the freeform/ improfield in Denmark + very active composer. Works currently also as leader of trio with Sylvie Courvoisier and Ikue Mori, duo/trio with Marilyn Crispell and as co-leader of the 12- piecegroup “Copenhagen Art Ensemble”. Has also played and toured with a.o. Tim Berne, Herb Robertson, Fred Frith, Paal Nilssen-Love, Andrew Cyrille,Marc Ducret, Benoit Delbecq, Okkyung Lee etc.
Craig Taborn: piano, keyboards, electronics Very inventive and highly estimated both as a pianoplayer and his work with electronics. Craig is both known from working on the Detroit technoscene (w/Carl Craig) and from freejazz/improgroups like Roscoe Mitchells “Notefactory”, Tim Bernes groups:”Hard Cell” and “Science Friction”,David Torn’s: Prezens. He also works with Chris Potter, + his own projects eg.: Junk magic
Gerald Cleaver: drums
G.C. is known as a super attentive drummer with a beautiful sound and hypnotic play. He has played with a long list of musicians both from the avantgarde/impro to the more mainstream; fx (from first category): Henry Threadgill, Roscoe Mitchell, Reggie Workman, William Parker, Tim Berne, Mark Helias:”Open Loose”, Ellery Eskelin, Charles Gayle, Miroslav Vitous, Tony Malaby ao.
Pressqoutes:
Floating Islands
This album has it all : the mastership, the skills, the balance, the musical baggage to draw from, the musical vision, the coherent delivery, the variation, the adventure, the passion, the discipline, the raw emotional power, the sophistication, .... Absolutely stunning.
Stef’s Free-Jazzblog 2009: www.freejazz-stef.blogspot.com
Floating Islands ist ein grandiose aufspielendes Avantgarde-Trio…..Ihre Exkursionen durch die Bezirke der freien Improvisation sind bestes Beispiel für einen innovativen energigeladenen Diskurs.
Jazzpodium 2010
‘…this live set is astonishing powerful…For it’s the combination of these three musicians that defines this record. More than just shared experience and common purpose, rather a sense that music comes not from within us but from a universe of which we are a tiny part. Floating Islands might not help us save the planet but in it’s way it tells us why we should,’
Jazzwise/UK 2010
The third release by this highly cohesive coterie continues their more-is-less aesthetic, where musical meanings must be inferred from reading between the (improvised) lines. Like Taborn, Anker, shifting between tenor, alto and soprano saxes, is a study in contrasts, a lyrical and understated skronker, lightly atmospheric or full of sound and fury, leading as she follows. AAJ/NY 2010
Live at the Loft
‘It’s an extremely deliberate trio, a group in which each member is able to insert marked gestures…. it’s all executed with that patient and deliberate sense of the geological fold or the sonata, as inevitable as it is fresh’.
Point of Departure www.pointofdeparture.org 2009
‘Consistently simmering without ever reaching boiling point, the groups control is once again impressive….this is a must for anybody yet to hear Lotte Anker, and will no doubt be on the shelves of those that have.’
Fred Grand/Jazzjournal UK 2009
Treading the risky path of collective improvisation, the players succeed in finding a common musical ground in which attention to timbral detail is the order of the day.........Triptych has a blend of African-American and European sensibilities that make for an enticing performance in which passing longueurs are redeemed by moments of inspired group interaction.”
Jazzwise UK 2006
Concentrate on simply the sound during the sonic pinnacle of either “Triptych” or “Cumulus” and the music loses its form, but ease into your seat from the beginning and hold on for a fantastic voyage…… this is not music for the moment but a glorious journey of group improvisation that bears repeated listening. For most of these cuts, the fun is getting there and finding your way home, and with these three top improvisers at the controls, Tryptych delivers a magnificent trip.”
All about jazz 2006
Taken as a whole, then,this persuasive initial outing from Anker´s trio is a delight, especially when compared to the deluge of many unfocused improvised music sessions.” Cadence 2006
”Pianist Craig Taborn and drummer Gerald Cleaver are close allies on the New York scene, and this encounter with danish saxist Lotte Anker affirms their simpatico. Anker, a fount of sinewy yet lyrical abstraction on both of her horns, seems to bring out the best in her collaborators. While Triptych is every inch a free session, with seven collectively composed pieces, the trio covers a wide swath of sonic territory.”
Signal to Noise 2005