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Agogic: Agogic

By Mark F. Turner
April 19, 2011
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Seattle's music scene is well known for its alternative rock bands, such as Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden. But the nonconformist jazz of Agogic's debut would rival them all in terms of its own energy and inventiveness. Born from the collaboration between saxophonist

Andrew D'Angelo

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew D'Angelo and trumpeter

Cuong Vu

trumpet
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Cuong Vu (whose resumes are dotted with the likes of David Bowie,

Pat Metheny

guitar
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Pat Metheny and

Kurt Rosenwinkel

guitar
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Kurt Rosenwinkel), the group is further cemented by bassist

Luke Bergman

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Luke Bergman and drummer

Evan Woodle

drums
b.1989

" data-original-title="" title="">Evan Woodle.

Agogic's pieces are like impressionist collages; at times painted with heavy back beats and eccentric harmonies in "Acid Kiss," or ripples of hushed and elongated notes that are coupled with a strummed bass chords and tribal drums in "Old Heap." Vu's horn is the most familiar, its electrified signature heard in his recordings Leaps of Faith (Origin Records, 2005) and It's Only Residual (ArtistShare, 2005). But D'Angelo's got his own bag of tricks, providing nice bass clarinet touches, exhausting lines and skronks in the jamming pieces "Too Well" and "Use 2," or indistinguishable sounds that add depth and granularity.

But what really identifies Agogic is its collectivism. It's a unit that can thrash like acid rockers; provide unpredictability by way of a soft melody in "Felicia," or travel light years to another galaxy in "Gently Shifting Next"—while, underneath its skin, lies the heart of

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis,

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman, and some Kurt Kobain thrown in, for good measure.

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Track Listing

En Se Ne; Too Well; Acid Kiss; Old Heap; Felicia; Use 2; Gently Shifting Next.

Personnel

Cuong Vu

trumpet

Andrew D'Angelo: alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Cuong Vu: trumpet; Luke Bergman: bass; Evan Woodle: drums.

Album information

Title: Agogic | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Table and Chairs Music

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