Here we have David Kollar and Paolo Raineri with a brilliant tribute to trumpeter Jon Hassell, who has worked with modern guitarists like Eivind Aarset and Rick Cox.
Here we have David Kollar and Paolo Raineri with a brilliant tribute to trumpeter Jon Hassell, who has worked with modern guitarists like Eivind Aarset and Rick Cox.
Anthony Pirog is a modern guitar hero on the level of his heroes Bill Frisell, Nels Cline, et al. In some ways he transcends them in his ability to deftly navigate a variety of genres—Jazz, Rock, Noise, Country, Ambient—genuinely but with his own take. At the time of this interview, his latest release is a collection of ambient guitar duos with Nels Cline, John Frusciante, Luke Stewart, Andy Summers, Janel Leppin, Brandon Ross, Wendy Eisenberg and Ryan Ferreira called on Otherly Love Records called The Nepenthe Series Vol. I.
Oz Noy and I go back 20 some years. From the beginning, it was obvious that he was unfettered by the limitations of technique—the guy could play anything from SRV blues to avant sonic explorations. We talk about his new record with Dennis Chambers and Jimmy Haslip, the second Ozone Squeeze record, and much more.
One commenter on this video laments Oz Noy’s use of effects for this tune as self-indulgent. What they apparently fail to understand is that by pushing the sounds into the future, Oz is honoring another pioneer. Thelonious Monk was often misunderstood during his lifetime by people who wanted to keep hearing the basic swing of an Oscar Peterson or an Earl Hines. Many performers of Monk tunes over the years miss the spirit of his quirky style and merely play standard bebop and blues licks over the changes (Bill Frisell being a notable exception). Oz’s work here displays a mastery of modern effects, as well as blazing chops.