Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Ken Vandermark's TOPOLOGY Nonet w/Joe McPhee: Impression...

Ken Vandermark's TOPOLOGY Nonet w/Joe McPhee: Impressions Of Po Music

By Mark Corroto
July 24, 2013
View read count

Ken Vandermark's TOPOLOGY Nonet w/Joe McPhee: Impressions Of Po Music

Food scientists know that human taste buds favor three items, sweet, salty and fat. Although abundant today, our prehistoric ancestors scavenged for these scarce commodities. A musical arranger, like a great chef, can serve up delectable music by skillfully combining the three tastes.

Our chef, the musical impresario Ken Vandermark, organized this nonet tribute to

Joe McPhee

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe McPhee and his influential music by inviting the great man to record with eight Chicago musicians. All would probably name McPhee as their personal demigod. Vandermark presents McPhee's music and his arrangements for the TOPOLOGY Nonet. The draw here is Vandermark's talent for organization, and the possibilities of McPhee's compositions.

Vandermark scoops huge chunks from McPhee's Po Music Oleo (HatOLOGY, 1982), beginning with "Impressions Of Astral Spirits/Age" that combines the sweet science of organized sound and a swirling cauldron of energy. Drummer

Tim Daisy

drums
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Daisy manages to keep all the plates spinning throughout with his unlimited supply of animation. Likewise, "Impressions Of Eroc Tinu" balances near entropy with some crafted soloing. Vandermark's arrangements avert the anticipated meltdowns, allowing the pieces to rise above the mayhem.

The meat of this session is the interplay between McPhee's open compositions and Vandermark's orchestration. Certainly the cast of solid improvisers recognize the tug of improvisation and the pull of organization. On "Impressions Of Future Retrospective" the Nonet exercises a pulsing blues ringing with vibraphonist

Jason Adasiewicz

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jason Adasiewicz's metallurgy and cellist

Fred Lonberg-Holm

cello
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Lonberg-Holm's relentless attack. Vandermark weaves the music with searing solos from cornetist

Josh Berman

cornet

" data-original-title="" title="">Josh Berman, saxophonist

Dave Rempis

saxophone
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Rempis and McPhee himself. The band moves from the heavy to quiet on "Impressions Of Sweet Dragon" featuring the interplay between Lonberg-Holm, trombonist

Jeb Bishop

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Jeb Bishop and Vandermark, on clarinet. The shortest track (at 4:47), "Impressions Of Goodbye Tom B.," is an unaccompanied tenor duet between McPhee and Vandermark. Taken from the landmark solo recording Tenor (HatOLOGY, 1977), the piece recreates feverish excitement of that remarkable time.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Impressions Of Astral Spirits/Age; Impressions Of Future Retrospective; Impressions Of Sweet Dragon; Impressions Of Goodbye Tom B.; Impressions Of Eroc Tinu; Impressions Of Pablo/Violets For Pia; Impressions Of Knox.

Personnel

Ken Vandermark

saxophone

Joe McPhee: tenor saxophone; Jason Adasiewicz: vibraphone; Josh Berman: cornet; Jeb Bishop: trombone; Tim Daisy: drums; Kent Kessler; bass; Fred Lonberg-Holm: cello, electronics; Dave Rempis: saxophones; Ken Vandermark: clarinet, tenor saxophone.

Album information

Title: Impressions Of Po Music | Year Released: 2013 | Record Label: Okka Disc

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Cocoon
< Previous

Desertico
Next >

Ken Vandermark Concerts

Oct 7 Tue

Ken Vandermark + Ben Lamar Gay Ensemble

La Dynamo De Banlieues Bleues
Pantin, France

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.