Barry Wedgle-composer & guitar George Garzone-tenor saxophone Santi Debriano-bass Billy Hart-drums Daniel Moreno-Percussion
David Baker-engineer Mike Ellis-producer
Darkness Publishing BMI 1 Love Life 7:23 2 The Dog Catcher 9:41 3 Paradise 18:30 4 Dumpling 7:32 5 Elegentidous 11:35 6 America the Brittle 7:35
Recorded at Sound on Sound Studios NYC 8-22-01
Veteran Barry Wedgle puts his own twist on the guitar combo session format by concentrating on acoustic rather than electric guitar. The acoustic gives his sound a human urgency that's a welcome contrast to the glibness of so many mainstream electric guitarists. He matches this relative novelty with atmospheric compositions that eschew easy gestures and stock chords for more amorphous structures that invite extended exploration. And he's recruited an intrepid group of musical explorers—tenor saxophonist George Garzone, bassist Santi Debriano, and drummer Billy Hart, assisted by percussionist Daniel Moreno on two tracks—to join him in this venture. Wedgle introduces the band with his most accessible offering, the tender "Love Life". His solo though is a fiery affair, full of rapid runs as if to demonstrate that he sacrifices nothing in intensity by employing an acoustic instrument. Coming after him Garzone evokes the opening mood, blowing a relaxed solo that segues back into the theme. Garzone proves an apt foil for Wedgle. Even on pieces with anxious undertones, such as the closer "America the Brittle" or "Dog Catcher", his blowing has a floating quality. While informed by Coltrane—he ends his "America" solo with a quote from A Love Supreme—he never resorts to pat modal clichés. He's always interacting with the band, especially Hart's explosive drumming. In programming the session, Wedgle alternates ballads—including the long, rambling title tune—with more aggressive numbers. "Elegentidous", like the opener colored by Moreno's shekere, has the yearning quality of a song by Coltrane in his high priest role. It evolves as a five-way conversation with Hart punctuating Wedgle and Garzone's restless counterpoint with rolling bursts from his snare drum. "Dumpling" also showcases Hart, as he explodes underneath the punchy head, then grounds Garzone and Wedgle's two-way blowing with a steady quarter-note drone on his ride cymbal while implying an out-of-kilter funk beat. "America" opens with more conversation, though the tone is more agitated. That gives way to an up-tempo contemporary swinger with solos all around. Wedgle, again as he does throughout, punctuates the structure of his improvisation with slashing chords. Fittingly, given how much his drums add to the session, Hart gets the final word in the solo segment. Having the drummer go last is not unusual, but doing the expected is what's rare in Wedgle's Paradise. by David Dupont
Cancoa do Amor Demais
'The Rendezvous'
Exit Records #1001
Barry Wedgle-guitar Steve Lacy-soprano saxophone Duet
1 Who Knows 5:15 (Thelonius Monk) 2 The Rendezvous 5:30 ( Steve Lacy) 3 Cancoa do Amor Demais 4:30 (Antonio Carlos Jobim) 4 Wickets 4:00 (Steve Lacy) 5 Blues for Aida 5:30 (Steve Lacy) 6 The Cure 6:00 (Barry Wedgle) 7 The Crust 3:50 (Steve Lacy) 8 Gallups Galop 3:50 (Thelonius Monk) 9 Death Notice 5:47 (Steve Lacy) 10 Arty's Song 4:13 (Barry Wedgle) 11 Cliches 5:53 (Steve Lacy) 12 Whammies 2:58 (Steve Lacy)
Recorded at Chauve Souris Studio in Paris, France in 1994. This combination of classical guitar and soprano saxophone has rarely been recorded and sounds like nothing you have ever heard before. This is the culmination of Steve and Barry's longtime friendship; they met in Paris and have played together on many occasions, notably with pianist Mal Waldron. A collection of compositions by Steve Lacy, Barry Wedgle, Thelonius Monk and Antonio Carlos Jobim, this is an essential disc for any jazz aficionado's collection. Jonathan Evans
listen to 'Cancoa do Amor Demais' by Antonio Carlos Jobim
Tuvan Throat Singing
from Russia
'Country and Eastern'
Exit Records #1006
Bob Amacher-Boudin Andre Mongosh-Tuvan throat singer & egil Barry Wedgle-Guitar Vera Sazhena -Voice
Darkness Publishing BMI
1 Marbles 14:01 2 Rosebud 10:51 3 The Mountain 6:07 4 The Prairie 11:00 5 Troubled Times 17:20 6 Kanieshna 15:07
(All compositions are improvised by Amacher Mongush, Wedgle & Sazhena)
Strange and iridescent. Acoustic Spanish jazz guitar strung between a boudin (drum) and a egil (3 string gypsy violin) with shamanic vocals and throat singing intermixed - this incredible CD is beyond description and very, very good.
I'm going to try to give you an idea of the sounds here: the main backing is a boudin (I thought that it was a bodran - a celtic drum, and it sounds like one?). This is an atmospheric jazz performance of world music that is beyond scope and definition. Crossing boundaries and opening minds, it's sure to give you a fresh outlook, perk up your ears at times, and flat out awaken you to a world sound that deserves attention.
Recorded in Moscow the long pieces (14, 15, and 17 minutes) weave a pattern deep into the threshold of your DNA and into places you may have never been before. Each piece has it's own personality but my favorites are track 1, 3 and 6.
The song lengths don't always match the track listings, but track 6 (Troubled Times? running 17:02) is fascinating, covering territory that starts out with a high and stuttered vocal doing a mimic of the guitar... eventually we get into deeper chanting, some beautiful high tuvan throat singing by Andre Mongush is fabulous here (I wish it was a little louder in the mix), and in between it all jazz guitar sweetness that sparkles and shimmers - coloring the whole thing like sprinkles on an ice cream sundae.
The vocals vary and are shamanic in intent and expression. Vera Sazhena handles female and higher end, but also bows down low for some real interesting signatures. It's hard to find much that I don't like, but I do have to say this CD is probably an acquired taste, give the sample at the website a listen, and if it intrigues you at all, then buy it now. This kind of authentic creative improvisation is nearly impossible to locate anywhere, so I highly recommend it. Barry Wedgle deserves an award for producing this and bringing the artists together.
Review by Brett Simpson
'Kake'
Exit Records #1009
Barry Wedgle-Composer, Guitar & Charrango Jerry Granelli-Drums Phil Sparks-Bass Jim Peluso-Drums Titos Sampa-Congas Fly McClard-Tenor Saxophone & Horn Arrangement Geoff Lee-Piano Collin Walcott-Tabla Jay Clayton-Voice Paul McCandless-Oboe Glen Nitta-Alto Saxophone Mark Harris-Tenor Saxophone Rick Jones-Trumpet Walter Dawkins-Tenor Saxophone Beth Winter-Choir Chandricka Fernandez-Choir Cara McMillen-Choir
Bob Burnham-Engineer & Producer Brad Smith-Enineer & Producer Recorded in Denver, Colorado in 1982.
(All compositions by Barry Wedgle except PJCBQ2, is by Walcott McCandless, Clayton & Wedgle)
Darkness Publishing BMI
1 Bird Voices 2 Spring Can 5:05 3 La Cruz 10:16 4 Kake 5:56 5 Riobamba 1:33 6 Cuzco 2:38 7 PJCBQ2 3:36 8 Hippo Walk 6:04 9 Wondervu 4:10
A CD of original compositions by Barry wedgle. 'This album is guitarist Barry Wedgle's recording debut. He has chosen to present an eclectic musical aesthetic in a collection of deverse settings which include both traditional and unconventional small groups, a big band with a latin percussion section & a women's choir. Raised in Denver, Barry's early musical influence were 'jazz standards'. The Hit parade of the 30's & 40's. Next was rock and bebop. During the extraordinary influx of world music in the 60's, Flamenco also attracted him. Drummer Jerry Granelli's group 'Visions' was Barry's introduction to post-bop and free jazz traditions of which he now has a great command of, as evidenced by this recording. His playing is marked by a powerful attack, rythmic security, and an oblique sense of phrasing, elements that have characterized some of the most inventive improvisors in jazz.
Paul McCandless
'Barry Wedgle Trio'
Exit Records #1008
Barry Wedgle-guitar Eric Von Essen-bass Russel Bizzett-drums
Wayne Peet-engineer Kilzone Studio-studio
1 Well you Needn't 11:04 (Thelonius Monk) 2 Softly as in a morning Sunrise 10:50 (Romberg & Hammerstien) 3 Have you met Miss Jones 13:33 (Rogers & Hart) 4 Gravel 12:10 (Wedgle, VonEssen & Bizzett) 5 Turnaround 6:23 (Ornette Coleman) 6 Human Nature 12:55 (Wedgle, VonEssen & Bizzett)
Recorded in Los Angeles California. The trio toured Japan together and this recording has classic chemistry. The late Eric VonEssen’s other recordings are on Owl Records in France while Russell Bizzett played with Jose Feliciano among many others. A CD of mostly jazz standards featuring "Have you met Miss Jones", Ornette Coleman’s "Turnaround" and Rogers and Hammerstein’s "Softly as in a morning Sunrise"alongside unique originals by the Trio. This is a daring and innovative CD which grows with every listening.
Jonathan Evans
'B B K'
Exit Records #1005
Barry Altschul Drums Barry Wedgle Guitar Kim Stone Bass
1 Honey Suckle Rose 12:55 Fats Waller 2 Black Orpheus 7:22 Louis Bonfa 3 Falling in Love with Love 8:26 Rogers & Hart 4 Lonely Woman 4:26 Ornette Coleman 5 Autumn Leaves 9:46 Johnny Mercer 6 Interface 7:54 Altschul, Wedgle & Stone
Recorded in Manitou Springs, Colorado in July 2002. This trio is comprised of three master musicians with disparate world-wide jazz experiences. Barry Altschul has played with Jimi Hendrix, Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Dave Holland and Anthony Braxton amongst many other international names. Kim Stone who has played with FireFall, Spirogyra, and Rare Silk, is currently with the Rippingtons jazz group. Barry Wedgle has worked with Sam Rivers, Steve Lacy, Billy Hart, George Lewis, Taj Mahal and the poet Allen Ginsberg. Collectively these three musicians play jazz standards as they've never been played before.
Jonathan Evans
'Diamonds and Coffee'
'The Kim Stone Electric Band'
Exit Records#1021
Mike Urban-saxophones Glen Whitehead-trumpet Allen Joseph-guitar Barry Wedgle-guitar Doug Grow--vocal Kim Stone-bass Randy Bowen-drums Crystal Brandl-percussion Cheyene Grow-engineer Clayton Randal Bowen-painter
The Kim Stone Electric Band was named with the “Electric” handle not so much as to indicate that the band was comprised of all electric instruments, because it is not, but to relate to the exciting interaction of this completely improvisational large band. I’ve always believed that Jazz is the product of musical improvisation and not any melodic or rhythmic musical approach. All the music on this CD was entirely and spontaneously improvised by the band. The recording of this show at the Smoke Brush Colorado Springs Colorado will remain one of our best and I’m happy that we captured it and can present it on this CD for all to hear. Kim Stone
'In Your Dreams'
Exit Records #1007
Barry Wedgle-Composer, Vocals & Guitar Kim Stone-Bass & Producer Anne Kennedy-Vocals Christian Teele-Drums Steve Barta-Piano Bryant Jones-Keyboard Greg Adams-Keyboard Doug Grow-Vocals Dave VanVliet-Keyboard Bob Mocarsky-Keyboard Keith Oxman-Tenor Saxophone Chris Lawson-Trumpet Chuck Schneider-Tenor Saxophone Brad Upton-Trumpet Pam Powers-Violin Crystal Bliss Brandl- Djembe, Djun Djun Shakers Recorded at Mad Mountain Studios Don Brown, Cascade Colorado Mastered at Scottland Studios L.A. California by Scott Brannon
Darkness Publishing BMI
1 Sea Level 6:10 2 Brazilia 4:27 3 In your Dreams 5:13 4 Violet- Infinity-Pep 11:14 5 Nights of Love 4:42 6 Gabrielle 4:04 7 Lluvia en Avila 5:23 8 The Black Forest 4:23 9 Voce se Lembra 4:29 10 Love Lost 3:57 Recorded in Cascade, the Rocky Mountains, Colorado in 2000 . A thoughtfully conceived project, this CD was produced by Kim Stone (bass player with The Rippingtons and Spyro Gyra) and features sublime vocals by Anne Kennedy which give Barry Wedgle’s original compositions extra depth and special feeling. This is 'Exit Records’ most commercial CD to date with a smooth Latin tone which will appeal to any listener.
