Mary Halvorson Quintet - Bending Bridges - The Periphery of Scandal
Eucalyptus - s/t - Jelly Roll
Atomic - Here Comes Everybody - Milano
Devin Gray - Dirigo Rataplan - Katahdin
Resonance Ensemble - What Country Is This? - Open Window Theory
AIMTorchestra - Year of The Boar - Year of The Boar
Corkestra - Gas Station Sessions - Kurk
Ask The Oracle - s/t - Surfing to Canada
Dennis Gonzalez Yells At Eels - Ressurection & Life - Humo En La Manana
Wilson / Lee / Bentley - Escondido Dreams - Man & Dog
On a sultry June night at the Horseshoe Tavern, back in 2008, Ken Vandermarks' Powerhouse Sound performed a thrilling, thunderous set - true to the name of the ensemble. But early arrivals were treated to two terrific opening acts. Colin Fisher and Geordie Haley performed an improvised set that showcased their skills and creativity and then came a larger outfit from Holland that I knew little about - Corkestra. Led by keyboardist Cor Fuhler and including a sort of whos-who of Dutch improvisors, Corkestra were an absolute delight. Fuhlers compositions made brilliant use of the players at his disposal in both solos and full band arrangements.
He made reference from the stage to a recording session that day on the "island". The Gas Station Sessions are the result of that day at Dale Morningstars' Gas Station studio on Toronto Island. Released about a year ago, This recording captures the unique and often quirky approach to mid-sized ensemble music that Cor Fuhler employs. Its a rare thing, these days, to have access to a larger ensemble and then to compose and arrange music that paints outside of the lines.
The short set in the middle of this weeks show featured a couple of other large outfits that I love. Ken Vandermarks Resonance Ensemble and the AIMToronto Orchestra arranged and conducted by Kyle Brenders take different approaches to the big band thing but both can give you that thrill of punctuating a phrase with a wall of air hitting you in the chest. Nothing quite like it.
