Re: Nels Cline, guitarist occasionally looping

[improv@peak.org]

I've been a huge fan of Cline since the early 90's, I saw him with the
Vinny Golia Quintet and was hooded. Later did a few shows in Oregon
opening for his trio, and have seen him numerous times since, the last was
in a duo show with Wilco drummner Glenn Kotche. I did a review for this
list, I think, check the archives.

Both of the Nels Cline Singers albums are awesome, probably the best
showcase for his stuff, IMHO. His recent album "New Monastary", which is
arrangements of tunes by pianost Andrew Hill for an octet is very cool as
well, more on the avant-jazz end of things. I'm not really a Wilco fan,
but I appreciate what he brings to the band. Cline is one of the greats!

> I'm rather a devotee of the man, I've seen him play live numerous times
> and always leave amazed. Wilco has a live album called "Kicking
> Television" where they do, indeed, stretch out a bit more. Nels plays
> great stuff on it, not doing very much looping, but you can always pick
> him out in skronky rhythm parts or a couple of great solos.
>
> The first Singers album - "Instrumentals" -  is fantastic, a bit more
> indie-rock influenced than their second, "the Giant Pin", which is a tad
> more free-jazz influenced. They have two new albums coming out -
> including one that's fully improvised - in the next month or so.
>
> If you're into droney stuff, he's done several records with a bassist
> named Devin Sarno. Their cd's contain some of the most beautiful music
> I've ever heard, no kidding.
>
> And for a real spazzy jazzy freakout, he and drummer Gregg Bendian
> famously recorded a version of Coltrane's entire "Interstellar Space",
> plus a lovely version of "Lonnie's Lament" at the end.
>
> I could go on...
>
> Daryl Shawn
> www.swanwelder.com
> www.chinapaintingmusic.com
>
>