A new release from Lizard Breath Records.
Dan Phillips Trio
featuring Krzysztof Pabian
and Timothy Daisy
"Sound Energy in Space"
Chicago has justly earned its high esteem amongst jazz & creative music aficionados.
The second release from a Chicago based Trio featuring ten original pieces by guitarist Dan Phillips that lean heavily on group improvisational skills of Timothy Daisy on Drums and Krzysztof Pabian on double bass. Three of the pieces feature the planetary magnetic field sounds recorded by NASA’s Voyager space probe.
Although this is only the second release for this unique Trio, Krzysztof and Dan have 20 plus year relationship and he is also a member of Dan’s “Chicago Edge Ensemble” which released two critically acclaimed recordings ”Decaying Orbit” in 2017 and “Insidious Anthem” in 2018. He is also a member of the Dan Phillips Quartet. Dan, Tim and Krzysztof also released another critically acclaimed Quartet album ‘Converging Tributaries” in 2017 with Trombonist Jeb Bishop. Tim is well known figure in the Chicago experimental/free jazz scene and has performed extensively with all members.
The city that fostered the talents of the AACM, Sun Ra, Fred Anderson, and many more has been kept alive by figures such as Ken Vandermark, Dave Rempis, Michael Zerang, Tortoise and many more. Some of the city’s finest appear on this release, led by guitarist Dan Phillips.
The album begins with the track “Sonic Thruster” , a sharp melody played in unison with bass before being deconstructed by the trio. Track 2 “Void Illusion” sets a more introspective tone with group improvisation that ends with a looped harmonic device. Track 3 is the first of three pieces that feature the magnetic planetary field sounds as recorded by Nasa’s Voyager probe for a backdrop. On this track it is Jupiter and track 6 and 10 feature the sounds of Uranus and Neptune respectively. All three pieces have group improvised and composed sections that reflect mood and tone of each unique planets’ sounds. Track 4 and 8 feature duo pieces with Tim and Krzysztof. Track 5 “Word Fatigue” travels through various shapes and melodic textures intertwined with group improvisation. Track 7 “A Once Forested Hill” features group improvisation leading toward minimalist melodic materiel. Track 9 “Emphatic Resonance” features a driving melody played feely over intensely played bass and drums leading to extended group improv and a bass arco played melodic ending.
Musicians
Dan Phillips is an American guitarist, composer educator and band leader who has worked professionally in New York, Chicago, Bangkok and Tokyo as well as touring globally. Dan is the leader of the critically acclaimed Chicago Edge Ensemble, Quartet Next, Dan Phillips Trio, Dan Phillips Quartet. Dan has performed with jazz musicians such as Hamid Drake, Gerald Wilson, Danilo Pérez, Hugo Rasmussen, Avreeayl Ra, Matt Darriau, Jim Black, Michael Zerang, Dave Rempis, Jeb Bishop, Mars Williams, Jim Baker, Ben Street, Chris Speed, Mike Sarin and Ed Thigpen and many more.
Tim Daisy is an American drummer and composer working in the fields of improvised and composed music. Tim moved to Chicago in 1997 and since that time has performed, recorded, and toured with many national and international improvised musicians and ensembles. Some of the musicians he has performed with inclue Dave Rempis, Ken Vandermark,Jeb Bishop, Mars Williams, Steve Swell, Jaimie Branch, Katherine Young, Fred Lonberg-Holm, James Falzone, Russ Johnson, Kyle Bruckmann, Katinka Kleijn, Elizabeth Harnik, Christof Kurzmann, Ikue Mori, Rafael Toral, Mikolaj Trzaska, Per Ake Holmlander, Darren Johnston, Havard Wiik, Jason Stein and Michael Zerang. In 2011 he received the New Music America Composers Assistance Award and in 2011, 2012 and 2017 the ASCAP Plus Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. He has recorded over one hundred and thirty albums as a sideman or leader for labels including Relay, (which he owns and operates), Not Two, Clean Feed, Astral Spirits, Aerophonic, Audiographic, Sonorus, Trost, Utech, New World, and Okka Disk.
Krzysztof Pabian hails from Europe as a classical-trained bassist. He began his music studies at the age of 8 on piano and switched to bass at age 14. Krzysztof moved to the U.S. in 1993 where he studied at Northwestern University to graduate with two Masters degrees in jazz and classical double bass performance. Krzysztof has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Civic Orchestra and worked in an array of ensembles under the direction of Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim, Christopher Eshenbach, Zubin Mehta, George Solti, Lawrence Foster, and Pinchas Zukerman to name a few. In the area of jazz Krzysztof has performed with Danilo Pérez, Judy Roberts, Eddie Henderson, Max Roach, Ron Blake, Hamid Drake, Mars Williams, Jarek Smietana and the Lincoln Center Jazz Sextet. Krzysztof has toured throughout North America and Europe with various groups and configurations.
Awards
- Chicago Edge Ensembles’ “Decaying Orbit” and “Insidious Anthem”
New York City Jazz Records Honorable Mention for album of the year 2017, 2018 - Dan Phillips Quartet “Converging Tributaries” Avant Music News Best of 2017
- Dan Phillips Hamid Drake “Trail of Inevitability” and Dan Phillips Trio “Divergent Flow”
Chicago Edge Ensemble “Insidious Anthem”
Avant Music News Honorable mention 2108 - Chicago Edge Ensembles’ “Decaying Orbit” and Dan Phillips Quartet “Converging Tributaries”
Tom Hulls’ Best of 2017 and 2018
What reviewers have said about Dan Phillips’ previous work:
“A strong sense of melody and deft control of his instrument, it seems, is all Phillips’ needs to convey his musical ideas……Phillips has something to say. By the time we get to “Shape 24” things have both changed and not. Employing overtones and a more percussive impact on the strings, the music is still moving, evolving, and interesting. Apparently the first solo offering from Phillips, and a solid two and a half hours of music.”
Review of “Shapes of Things’ Freejazzblog 2021
“He’s a surgical technician when he wants to be, paring his notes down to their molecular formulas in “Once a Forested Hill” and “Void Illusion” or he open up the possibilities with some indulgent abandon.”
Review of Dan Phillips Trio Sound Energy in Space allaboutjazz 2019
“The musicians are demonstrating their own style and sound – they don’t hesitate to take on adventurous and bright improvisations, moody and dynamic twists, passionate blowing that go down to peaceful, sad, light and solemn pieces. The variety of moods and expressions effects an emotional, impressive and dynamic sound that is constantly changing.”
Review of Dan Phillips Quartet Light at Depth Avantscena 2019
“Insidious Anthem employs a small band sound reflecting the taut arrangements of leader and electric guitarist Dan Phillips, whose skills as a writer rival his improvisational talent. Hard to label.. the small group packs a strong punch.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Insidious Anthem New York City Jazz Record 2019
“The music on this album is filled with surprises and incredible turns., the musical language is rich expressive, vivid and incredible.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Insidious Anthem Avantscena 2018
“The compositions begin with and intricate and complex sonic architecture or quiet, searching textures that highlight the rich palette of the ensemble…Phillips sets the basic theme and the overall atmosphere. Later these parts mature into collective, free jazz improvisations that enjoy the full power and the soulful sound of the ensemble.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Insidious Anthem Salt Peanuts 2018
“Dan Phillips’ music is highly variable, constantly changing and dynamic. He masterfully puts together loud, expressive, passionate and vivacious improvisations, turbulent and free solos, subtle, peaceful and soft solos with other elements.”
Review of Dan Phillips Trio Divergent Flow Avantscena 2018
“Overall this is highly original music, which offers superb musicality and unique sonic expression both artistic and professional to the core.”
Review of Dan Phillips Trio Divergent Flow Polish Blog Spot 2018
“With each release Phillips’ sound continues to mature and expand. What remainsunchanged is his imaginative creativity and his restless inventiveness. These and his shared musical vision with his sidemen- accomplished artists in their own right are what make this recording an absorbing musical treat.”
Review of Dan Phillips Trio Divergent Flow Chicago Jazz Magazine 2018”
“Chicago Edge Ensemble is an all terrain vehicle, a quintet equally capable of negotiating the bumpy-smooth contours of swinging post bop, the banked hairpin turns of fusion funk, the fog and ether AACM-style intrigue and the tumultuous thicket that awaits if you gleefully careen off the road.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Decaying Orbit Jazz Times 2017
“Phillips in particular proves why he’s the most under-appreciated electric guitarist from the Chicago area. There’s no hesitation or sense of compromise on Decaying Orbit. As the band name implies, this is jazz and improvisational material which goes to the edge, stays there and doesn’t retreat.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Decaying Orbit Audiophile Magazine 2017
“With it’s palpable personality, rigorous but approachable compositions, and sure footed sense of self, Chicago Edge Ensemble’s Decaying Orbit not only pays homage to the city that Phillips’ loves, but solidly places him on the map as a formidable instrumentalist and composer. It’s a treat to hear him play with such a first rate band of some of Chicago – and the world’s – greatest musicians.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Decaying Orbit Broadway World 2017
“Dan Phillips leads a Quintet with a big Chicago sound and memorable compositions.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Decaying Orbit The Wire Magazine 2017
“Chicago jazz is the complexity of the postmodern with a predisposition for rump shaking. The Quintet rarely lowers the flame below boiling.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Decaying Orbit allaboutjazz 2017
“This is a fine album of interesting themes and powerful performances by the full ensemble and the soloists. Everyone draws deeply from the limitless well of the city’s musical history and creates a bold and thoughtful statement.”
Review of Chicago Edge Ensemble Decaying Orbit jazzandbluesbloagspot. 2017
“The Variety of moods, expressions, characters and playing techniques, masterful and organic synthesis of different musical language elements and expressive and extraordinary improvising create innovative sound on this album.”
Review of Dan Phillips Trio “Divergent Flow” Avantscena 2018