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Jim Knodle

As a trumpet player, I have a reputation for eclecticism and originality springing from a desire to play the trumpet in a definitely "un-trumpetish" fashion.As far as Jazz goes I'm indebted mainly to saxophonists- Ornette Coleman, Paul Desmond, Stan Getz, and Eric Dolphy. Of course, who could disregard past and present trumpet geniuses such as Louis Armstrong, Cootie Williams, Henry "Red" Allen, Ruby Braff, Miles Davis, Don Cherry, Freddy Webster, Booker Little, Art Farmer, Barbara Donald, and others. This has not always been an advantage from a career standpoint. I'm usually considered a little too out for the Ins and a little too in for the Outs, but that's just where I want to be. I've performed and/or recorded with Paul Rucker, Roger Baird, Michael Bisio, Daniel Carter, Vinnie Golia, Andrew Hill, Robin Holcomb, Wayne Horvitz, William Parker, Perry Robinson, Dave Storrs, Michael Vlatkovich, Dina Blade, and Lynette Westendorf. I was raised in a Midwestern fundamentalist religion. Some of my earliest musical memories are of revival-meeting piano players raising the crowd seemingly several feet from the floor. I've always felt the best musically when I'm a sort of conduit for something inexplicable - it's like the music grabs me by the scruff of the neck and we're gone.

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93
Album Review

Jim Knodle & Anansi: Wending

Read "Wending" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Trumpeter Jim Knodle takes a very long view of the recorded history of jazz. The music he wrote for this quintet/sextet known as Anansi never truly centers itself on one period or style of sound. Wending takes equally from Ellington, Early and Late-Miles, and a very open form music.

Because the three tracks heard here are lengthy, nine minutes the shortest and twenty-five the longest, there are no jump cuts or split allegiances. Knodle composes and arranges ...

130
Album Review

Jim Knodle and Dave Storrs: Unprepared

Read "Unprepared" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


A trumpet and drum duet: two sticks, three buttons and a couple of pedals, pursed lips, studied exhalations. A fairly simple concept, on paper. Unprepared, by trumpeter Jim Knodle and percussionist Dave Storrs, is another shining set of spontaneously composed tunes from Louie Records, out of Corvallis, Oregon.Drummer Dave Storrs, though not at this point in time a household jazz name--like, say, Elvin Jones--takes percusssion into new dimensions of uncharted fluidity and shifting momentums. His teaming ...

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Progressively agile, while being nothing short of hard free-bop, is an accurate description of trumpeter Jim Knodle's band, Anasi. Taking its name from the trickster of many African fables, Knodle's new disc, "Wending," (on the Nine Winds label), is a great debut.

Knodle puts together a fine program that lasts less than 50 minutes - - which is quite short, considering most compact discs clock in at least around 65 minutes. Nonetheless, the music is well thought out. It is executed in such a fashion as to give rise to the notion of being wholly improvised. While improvisation is the key, Knodle's writing proves fresh and innovative.

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Primary Instrument

Trumpet

Willing to teach

Beginner to advanced

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Unprepared

Louie Records
2003

buy

Wending

Nine Winds Records
2003

buy

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