Label: Not Two, 2006
Catalogue No: MW-772-02
Format: CD
Tracks:
1. Antlers [03:04] 2. MB-1 (for Marion Brown) [09:21] 3. Patient Explorer [06:33] 4. Grow Your Own [04:27] 5. We Interrupt This Channel [10:51] 6. Remember Now [07:46] 7. Different Degrees [07:05] 8. Stride Right [05:45]
All compositions by Steve Swell
Performed by:
Steve Swell - trombone Sabir Mateen - alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet, alto clarinet Matthew Heyner - double bass Klaus Kugel - drums
Recorded:
by at Newsonic Studios, Brooklyn, New York October 4, 2005
Reviews:
"Remember Now" is the second release of trombonist's Steve Swell Slammin' The Infinite band, and they now sound more like a unit. Rather than two front line soloists with a rhythm section, on this release they seem like a group of four equals. The rhythm section of Matthew Heyner (who is amazing on this disc) and Klaus Kugel (ditto) has really developed into a team that is just as able to step out in front and lead the band as to drive it along from behind. And the material Swell has written takes full advantage of this. The opening track "Antlers" is a good example. Those who think this group as merely an energy blowing band may be surprised by this track. The horns play written material throughout, a series of off kilter phrases that form a springboard for the rhythm section and a feature for Heyner. His arco bass work on this track shows that he's the heir apparent to Alan Silva, with careening lines flowing effortlessly off his bow. Elsewhere Swell scores out fiery phrases for the horns. MB-1 (for Marion Brown)has the horns stating the theme, jabbing out staccato phrases.This has the effect of propelling saxophonist Sabir Mateen to a powerful tenor solo that reaches the stratosphere. The title track is propelled by a lopsided ostinato phrase as the horns state the theme in unison above. It's reminiscent of the type of themes Grachan Moncur III was writing during his BYG-Actuel phase. Swell plays a big, blustery solo that stretches the rhythm this way and that (listen to the way Kugel responds) and creates remarkable tension. When Mateen enters on tenor, he plays a couple of phrases in a raspy almost Archie Shepp-type voice before settling into a more typical solo that takes the material soaring before bringing it back down to earth with a couple of decisive phrases. Every track has something to offer. Each are cut so closely that the effect is of an hour-long suite. It's almost hard to take this disc off once one puts it on. Remember Now makes a good case for Slammin’ The Infinite being one of the most exciting working groups in jazz/improvised music today. (Robert Iannapollo, All About Jazz)
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Steve Swell has been living, working and performing in New York City for all of his adult life. In an effort to find his own voice on his instrument and to learn to write and arrange in a style of his own, he has sought out, performed and recorded with many of the finest composers and improvisors in the city. He has recorded and toured with such diverse jazz personalities as mainstreamers Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich, to so-called outsiders like Anthony Braxton and Jemeel Moondoc. Swell has 20 recordings as a leader or co-leader and is a featured artist on more than seventy other releases.
Swell first came to public attention performing with Makanda Ken McIntyre in the multi-instrumentalist's concert at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1985 of which Herb Boyd of The Amsterdam News wrote, "Swell possesses a foreceful, but mature sound...with a vibrant syncopation..." Later, Swell came to international attention while touring in Europe and recording with alto saxophonist Tim Berne and his group "Caos Totale." There are two studio recordings of this band on the JMT label. During this time Steve also toured and recorded with Joey Baron's "Barondown" which has three releases; one for JMT, one on New World and the most recent for the Avant label.
Even though he is strongly identified with the "downtown scene", Swell has been developing his style in the more so-called "traditional avant-garde" arena. Co-leading such projects as "Space, Time, Swing" with Perry Robinson, being a sideman in William Parker's "Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra" and working with other similar people has kept him on this circuit. Dave McElfresh of Jazz Now wrote in a review of drummer Lou Grassi's CD, PoGressions, "Swell's powerful trombone zooms in and out of the music like a plane diving at a target. Players like himself - and music like this - are to be thanked for the revival of interest in the instrument."
Swell's newest CD, "Slammin' the Infinite" with Sabir Mateen, Matt Heyner and Klaus Kugel was released in November of 2004 on Cadence. CIMP also released a co-lead group with Gebhard Ullman called Desert Songs which has Barry Altschul and Hill Greene. Drimala Records will be releasing a duo recording with Dominic Duval. "Unified Theory Of Sound, This Now!" featuring Jemeel Moondoc, Wilber Morris, Cooper-Moore, Kevin Norton and Matt LaVelle was released on Cadence in 2003. Swell was also a featured soloist with Anthony Braxton in his opera, "Shala Fears For The Poor" performed at John Jay College in New York and recently taught a master class at New England Conservatory in Boston and is an artist/mentor in the NYC public school system.
Steve's "Suite For Players, Listeners and Other Dreamers" was voted Number 2 in the 2004 Cadence Reader's Poll.
