Rhys Chatham, composer, guitarist, trumpeter, all-around cool guy, has signed a two-album deal with up-and-coming label Northern-Spy. The first release, due April 12, is titled Outdoor Spell, and if his last album, The Bern Project (TMT Review), is any indication, the new album will blow your mind. Actually, it’s probably not much of an indication, as not only does Chatham leave the guitars behind for trumpet on Outdoor Spell, but he also recently told Ars Nova Workshop that the album “marks a real break from [his] past brass releases.” He continues:
When I returned to playing brass a few years back, I spent almost a year defining a complete new way, at least for me, of playing trumpet. No more distortion, no more wah-wah pedal, just pure trumpet, making use of its entire range, from the lowest pedal tones to high triple Cs. Outdoor Spell is the first release where we can hear this new style.
The album sees Chatham collaborating with Cuban percussionist Beatriz Rojas, French improviser Jean-Marc Montera on electric guitar, and Kevin Shea (Talibam!, Peter Evans Quartet) on drums. You can check out our premiere of “Corn Maiden’s Rite” over at the Chocolate Grinder. YES YES YES.
Tourdates:
02.09.11 - New York, NY - Le Poisson Rouge #
02.12.11 - Arlington, VA - Artisphere #
02.13.11 - Philadelphia, PA - International House %#
02.17.11 - Montreal, Canada - Casa del Popolo #
02.18.11 - Buffalo, NY - Hall Walls Contemporary Art Center #
02.19.11 - Detriot, MI - Detroit Museum of Contemporary Art #
03.01.11 - Paris, France - Centre Culturel Suisse ^
03.22.11 - Manchester, UK - Islington Mill $
03.26.11 - Liverpool, UK The Bluecoat
03.27.11 - London, UK Cafe Oto @
# Rhys Chatham Brass Trio (Rhys Chatham: trumpet; David Daniell: guitar; Ryan Sawyer: drums)
% Elliott Sharp rules
^ Trumpet performance
$ Rhys Chatham’s Guitar Trio
@ Solo trumpet, guitar works
Outdoor Spell tracklist:
01. Outdoor Spell
02. Crossing the Sword Bridge of the Abyss
03. Corn Maiden’s Rite
04. The Magician
• Rhys Chatham: http://www.rhyschatham.net
• Northern-Spy: http://www.rhyschatham.net
