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CD Reviews
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By Harvey Pekar for JazzTimes
On Norton's prior album, the excellent Knots, he wrote a piece to feature clarinetist David Krakauer. Here one of his goals is to highlight the playing of Anthony Braxton, who appears on alto and sopranino saxophones and contrabass clarinet. Other group members include David Bindman, tenor sax, flute and conga; Bob DeBellis, alto and flute; Tomas Ulrich, cello; and Joe Fonda, bass. Norton, who plays trap drums, percussion and vibes, has worked frequently with Braxton, and there's an affinity between them. For Guy DeBord has nine sections or "events," on which Norton employs varied instrumental combinations. It begins with a vibes-alto sax duet, followed by Braxton on contrabass clarinet with the vibes and two flutes. After a brief cymbal-gong statement, there's an arco cello, pizzicato bass duet that Braxton joins on sopranino. The fifth section, played by the ensemble, thickens gradually in texture, then thins, followed by unaccompanied bass and drum solos, a rich-toned cello spot with spare accompaniment and then the vibes, with an alto duet at the end. Obviously, there's a lot of timbral exploration going on here. Norton's use of fresh and varied textures ranks among the album's highlights. Braxton turns in laudable alto work during the first and last sections; check his use of unusual intervals. In both his writing and playing Norton displays much subtlety, imagination and originality. He's got a direction and hopefully will continue to expand what have been his impressive accomplishments to date.
Source: CD Reviews section from the July/August 2000 issue of JazzTimes
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 JazzTimes and Harvey Pekar.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Harvey Pekar:
- Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet
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By Richard Cochrane for Musings
Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (in Nine Events)
(Barking Hoop: BKH001)
Anthony Braxton (reeds), Bob DeBellis (reeds), David Bindman (reeds), Tomas Ulrich (cello), Joe Fonda (bass), Kevin Norton (drums)
Kevin Norton: Knots
(Music and Arts: CD1033)
Bob DeBellis (reeds), David Bindman (reeds), David Krakauer (clarinet), Tomas Ulrich (cello), Joe Fonda (bass), Kevin Norton (drums)
Norton is a percussionist linked with the increasingly fertile Tri-Centric organisation headed up, of course, by the great Anthony Braxton, who appears on the first of these discs. He's an accomplished player, but perhaps even more important are his compositional skills, which he shows off to the full here, and especially on the disc with Braxton.
"For Guy Debord (in Nine Events)" is a typically grandiose title for a jazz suite, if that's what it is. It's certainly what it sounds like, and its construction — basically a set of ensemble passages and a mixture of scoring and improvisation — only reinforces the impression. The music takes on various shades through its thirty-five minutes, but it's not pointlessly orchestral; indeed, Norton appears to have chosen a fairly conventional grouping so as to concentrate on the notes rather than the colouration.
The results are impressive indeed, and the music has no trouble at all holding the attention. Braxton isn't particularly featured; it's an ensemble record within which solos occasionally crop up, and it has to be said that one at least of the other reed players is so much in the older man's shadow that it's hard to be sure who's playing what. This is fine, because it's not a record about personalities. The personality which comes across most stringly is the composer's and, a close second, Norton's vibes, which make the opening reminiscent of (no faint praise, this) "Out To Lunch".
Having mentioned the length of the piece, it's worth pointing out that there's no extra padding to make this CD twice as ong as it needs to be. This is a good thing; there are far too many over-long albums out there, and "For Guy Debord" stands perfectly well on its own merits. One tiny grumble: it would have been easy enough to index the nine "events", which might have made the disc slightly more accessible, but never mind.
The band is tight and hugely inventive, so it's good to see they didn't just form for this piece; "Knots" finds them (sans Brax, of course) tearing up eleven charts by Norton and two old Monk favourites in extremely pleasing fashion. Norton's compositions are sometimes perverse, deliberately surprising things which everyone clearly enjoys playing. Heads can be lengthy and multi-segmented, re-emerging at odd moments, as is the way with contemporary (and particularly post-Braxton) jazz composition.
It has to be said that there's nothing astonishingly new here, but what there is is an extraordinary quintet playing unusual and often beautiful music. Ulrich is, as usual, a huge asset, and the front line are a powerful and precise set of lungs. The excellent Krakauer plays on just three tracks, but with fire in his belly; one wishes for more after he's gone, but the quality of what follows doesn't disappoint.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 Richard Cochrane.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Richard Cochrane:
- Joe Fonda & Xu Fengxia: Distance
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Live at the Bunker
- Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Kevin Norton Ensemble: Knots
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Rui Eduardo Paes
Norton está a tornar-se num caso muito sério do jazz actual. Com o seu Ensemble e a colaboração de Anthony Braxton, seu patrão nos projectos “ghost trance” que este recentemente tem desenvolvido, o baterista e vibrafonista homenageia o pensador, cineasta e militante francês da Internacional Situacionista, Guy Debord, numa longa composição em nove partes (não indexadas no CD, atenção) ou “eventos”, como refere à maneira de George Russell. Em «For Guy Debord», a filiação situ faz-se sentir sobretudo na aplicação da ideia de “deriva”, que este filósofo definia como uma técnica de passagem pelos vários ambientes de uma cidade, ambicionando a construção de uma metrópole com novas relações entre edifícios, ruas e bairros, mesmo que estes se situassem em zonas distintas - aliás, a célebre frase do Maio de 68 em Paris, «debaixo das pedras da calçada, a praia», foi directamente inspirada na acção dos situacionistas. Como tal, esta música tem um carácter elíptico e errante, sem início, meio ou fim (tudo está em processo, em acumulação), e com várias configurações do grupo, desde a totalidade do sexteto até ao solo. A obra peca, no entanto, pelo excessivo formalismo e a centralizadora vontade de que os referidos “eventos” se coadunem com as ideias de Debord. Assim sendo, «Change Dance Troubled Energy», um disco muito mais jazzístico e que corre menos riscos, acaba por ser mais galvanizante.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 Rui Eduardo Paes.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Rui Eduardo Paes:
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Twelve Improvisations
- Joe Fonda & Xu Fengxia: Distance
- Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- The Nu Band: Live at the Bop Shop, Rochester, NY
- Anthony Braxton & Joe Fonda: 10 Compositions (Duet) 1995
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Glenn Astarita for All About Jazz
Drummer/percussionist and highly regarded composer, Kevin Norton exhibits his writing and arranging expertise on this intriguing release inspired by filmmaker and writer Guy Debord. With this effort, Norton garners some extra special support from longtime musical associate Anthony Braxton, as For Guy Debord (in nine events) comprises one extended piece, segmented into intersecting movements.
Norton and Braxton commence this composition with a flirtatious vibes and alto duet, whereas woodwind specialists Bob DeBellis and David Bindman, alter the tone and direction whether performing on flutes or saxophones as the musicians skillfully engage in deft expressionism and mutable conversation.
Throughout, the band pursues circular themes and Afro-Cuban rhythms as the soloists up the ante with heated exchanges via yearning cries and propulsive motifs, yet it's not all about lengthy soloing and bravado as Norton injects disparate elements into this thoughtful and artfully conceived opus.
Other highlights include, bassist Joe Fonda's semi-austere arco lines and classical undercurrents in conjunction with the soloist's contrasting dialogue as Norton's concepts and implementations provide the listener with a solid base for his or hers psyche to run rampant. And other than the artist's stature as a first call session musician, he has rapidly become one of the finest composers/improvisers on the modern jazz scene! Highly recommended!
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 All About Jazz and Glenn Astarita.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Glenn Astarita:
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Forever Real
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Twelve Improvisations
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Live at the Bunker
- Mosaic Sextet: Mosaic Sextet
- FAB: Transforming The Space
- Mark Whitecage's Other Quartet: Consensual Tension
- Anthony Braxton: Small Ensemble Music (Wesleyan) 1994
- Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Fonda-Isbin: Blisters
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Trio (Live at Alchemia, Krakow, Poland, April 2006)
- The Nu Band: The Dope and The Ghost, Live in Vienna
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François Couture for All Music Guide
Usually, the impetus necessary for a musician to start his own record label is the desire to put out a recording he was unable to interest other labels in. If that's what happened with Kevin Norton's For Guy Debord, something is wrong on planet avant-garde. For his first release on Barking Hoop, the percussionist offers a piece in nine continuous events, 37 minutes long. The cast is star-studded: Anthony Braxton (the leader's teacher and mentor), Bob DeBellis, David Bindman (of the Brooklyn Sax Quartet), Tomas Ulrich (cellist in Dominic Duval's string quartet), and bass veteran Joe Fonda. Each event is scored for a different grouping, but the sections are well integrated into the whole. Norton opens on vibes but also plays the drum kit, including a mean solo. Braxton delivers a poignant contrabass clarinet episode early in the piece. Guy Debord was a filmmaker and writer of post-Dadaist allegiance and a central figure in the 1968 Paris student uprising. The connection between his eccentric works and Norton's piece probably resides in his concept of the "drift," as Bill Shoemaker argues in his liner notes. The music does drift from one section to the next, although it does not form a linear tangible journey. Norton's writing is precise and surprisingly lyrical, yet it eschews easy answers. Moreover, it provides an excellent vehicle for interpretation. Braxton's influence is palpable but not despotic. The sound quality could have been better (some overload during the drum solo, an annoying glitch at the very end of the CD) but, all in all, For Guy Debord makes a strong avant-garde jazz album, uncompromising and captivating.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 All Media Guide, LLC and François Couture.
Source: Z95-3
CD Reviews
All reviews written by François Couture:
- Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Fonda-Fengxia: Distance
- Anthony Braxton: Knitting Factory (piano / Quartet) 1994, Vol.2
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Bruce Lee Gallanter for Downtown Music Gallery
I been checking out Kevin Norton's inventive drumming for about a decade now, I recall that he was once a member of Fred Frith's Keep the Dog. He has played for & with visionary/composer Anthony Braxton, no doubt an inspiration to all around him. This release is Kevin's third as a leader & his first on his new label - Barking Hoop. This set was recorded live at Braxton's important Tri-Centric Fest in September of '98 at the Greenwich House in west Village. The piece is dedicated to French anarchist/filmmaker - Guy DeBord, the cover shows the aftermath of a violent confrontation between police & students in Paris in 1968. DeBord was involved with "The Theory of the Drift" - a transient mode of drifting through buildings in mid-demolition. The piece itself is continuous, flowing from one event to another. The ensemble of three reeds, cello, contrabass & percussion, draws from a rich pallette of ideas/colors/sounds and combinations of instruments. Kevin plays mostly vibes for the early part, with the persistent cosmic squawking of three saxes which later calm down & turn into flutes. Anthony soon whips out a scary solo on one of them odd horns, like some alien animal speaking in tongues of other worlds (was that too Sun Ra like?). Textures, times & the overall vibe changes in the mid- section - with a pumping rhythm thing of David Bindman on congas, Joe Fonda on bass & Kevin on drums and intensely chattering horns. Kevin takes a rambunctious drum solo as the events continue. The final section winds down to a relaxed, near calm slow motion sax drone and finally a 'ghost trance' like repeating line ending with Braxton's distinctive squall. You need this!
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2006 Downtown Music Gallery and Bruce Lee Gallanter.
CD Reviews
All reviews written by Bruce Lee Gallanter:
- Roland Dahinden: Naima
- Nu Band: Live at the Bop Shop, Rochester, NY
- Nu Band: The Nu Band Live
- Michael Musillami Trio: Dachau
- Kevin Norton: For Guy Debord (In Nine Events)
- Kevin Norton: Knots
- Joe Fonda: From The Source
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Forever Real
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Evolution
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Live at Alte Paketpost
- FAB: Live at Iron Works, Vancouver, BC
- Conference Call: Variations On A Master Plan
- Conference Call: Live at the Outpost
- Anthony Braxton: Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 3
- Anthony Braxton: Ninetet (Yoshi's) 1997, Vol. 1
- Anthony Braxton: Four Compositions (Washington, D.C.) 1998
- Joe Fonda's Bottoms Out: Loaded Basses
- Walter Thompson Orchestra: The Colonel
- Brandon Evans Youth Quartet: Live at Wesleyan 1994
- Angelini-Fonda-Lopez: Silent Cascade
- ZMF Trio: Circle the Path
- Fonda/Stevens Group: Trio (Live at Alchemia, Krakow, Poland, April 2006)
- Michael Musillami Trio w/ Mark Feldman: The Treatment
- The Nu Band: The Dope and The Ghost (Live in Vienna)
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Alekos Pandelis for Altrisuoni
For Guy Debord è la registrazione inaugurale della Barking Hoop Recordings, etichetta americana di alto profilo che ha dato alle stampe dal 1998 ad oggi interessantissimi lavori di musica contemporanea, di free jazz e della cosiddetta musica nuova che hanno come due poli di attrazione da un lato il compositore-percussionista Kevin Norton con il suo Ensemble, dall'altro il celebre sassofonista Anthony Braxton.
For Guy Debord è un lungo pezzo di trentasette minuti suddiviso in nove 'eventi' dedicati al noto provocatore Debord, composto e diretto da Norton, con il suo Ensemble (Bob De Bellis, David Bindman, Tomas Ulrich, Joe Fonda) e uno strepitoso Braxton come sideman nell'Ensemble al posto di David Krakauer. I nove eventi si sviluppano senza soluzione di continuità - come vuole la prassi della registrazione live (questa è stata effettuata al Tri-Centric Festival nel 1998) - prendendo corpo e sostanza molto lentamente, a tratti in forma quasi abbozzata e sincopata, senza trovare mai fino in fondo una forma che possa dirsi definitiva. Gli spunti più brillanti sono senz'altro quelli di Norton a cui risponde un Braxton assolutamente al di sopra di ogni aspettativa, che si stacca quasi dal resto dell'Ensemble. Bel lavoro, un vero e proprio work in progress, pieno di chiari-scuri, di idee abbozzate, che merita(va)no davvero attenzione. Non è il più bel disco del percussionista americano, ma senza dubbio è uno di quelli che aiuta a comprendere la sua intrigante e spiazzante poetica.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2007 Altrisuoni and Alekos Pandelis.
CD Reviews
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Quotes from further reviews
"Norton's arranging skills are formidable... this is a meaty and enjoyable work of art." — Walter Horn, Cadence
"...one of the best CDs of 2000" — Cadence and Jazz Times
Source: JAZZLOFT.
CD Reviews
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