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Ches Smith

Ches Smith is an American musician whose primary instruments are drums, percussion, and vibraphone. He writes and performs music in a wide variety of contexts, including solo percussion, experimental rock bands, and small and large jazz ensembles.

Smith has performed with Good For Cows, Marc Ribot, Theory of Ruin, Mr. Bungle, Secret Chiefs 3, Xiu Xiu, Trevor Dunn's Trio-Convulsant, Carla Bozulich, Beat Circus, Sean Hayes, Ben Goldberg, 7 Year Rabbit Cycle, Ara Anderson and Fred Frith.

He has also recorded and performed a full-length album of his own solo percussion pieces entitled Congs For Brums (2006). In 2010 he released Congs for Brums 'Noise to Men'.

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7
Album Review

Sunny Five: Candid

Read "Candid" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


With the ever-evolving tapestry of experimental jazz, striking the perfect balance between familiar echoes and trailblazing sounds can be a delicate act. Intakt's latest release, Sunny Five, not only navigates this tightrope with finesse but also performs a dazzling dance across it. This album serves as a vibrant reminder of the joy and spontaneity that lie at the heart of jazz. Delivered by a collection of renowned New York-based musicians, each a master in their own right, the band offers ...

16
Album Review

Mendoza - Hoff - Revels: Echolocation

Read "Echolocation" reviewed by Glenn Astarita


In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary jazz, Echolocation emerges as a bold exploration of sonic frontiers. Crafted through the collaborative virtuosity of Ava Mendoza on guitar and Devin Hoff on bass, this project embarks on a musical journey which delves deep into the avant-garde jazz realm, blending experimental rock, electric jazz, and the limitless creativity of neo-psychedelia. The album commences with “Dyscalculia," a track which weaves the raw energy of metal with the intricate layers of free jazz, ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

Ches Smith, Damasiewicz / Wania, Fujii / Ono & Roberto Ottaviano

Read "Ches Smith, Damasiewicz / Wania, Fujii / Ono & Roberto Ottaviano" reviewed by Maurice Hogue


Plenty of genre-stretching music in this episode, from drummer Ches Smith's new Laugh Ash, vocalist Amirtha Kidambi & Elder Ones and their drive to make their music reflect the need for protest, and the Ewart/Asplin/Ricks Trio, featuring master AACM reedist Douglas Ewart, recorded live at BYU. Polish trumpeter Piotr Damasiewicz hooks up with fellow Pole, the talented pianist Dominik Wania for the intimate The Way, The Truth, The Life “ while Satoko Fujii joins saxophonist Ryoko Ono for a sparkling ...

1
Radio & Podcasts

New Music From Ches Smith, Eva Novoa, Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanj, And More

Read "New Music From Ches Smith, Eva Novoa, Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanj, And More" reviewed by Bob Osborne


On this show we feature new music from Ches Smith, Eva Novoa, Arve Henriksen & Harmen Fraanj, Matthieu Bordenave, Adam Schroeder & Mark Masters, Ewart Asplund Ricks Trio , Christoph Gallio Day & Taxi, Recabarren Menares Vazquez, Ken Vandermark's Edition Redux, Drazek Fuscaldo Drake Aoki Jones & Abrams, and a recording from the 1960s from Michael Garrick.Playlist Show Intro 00:00 Ches Smith “Sweatered Webs (Hey Mom)" from Laugh Ash (Pyroclastic) 01:00 Eva Novoa “Rocket Man" from Novoa / ...

1
Album Review

Ches Smith: Laugh Ash

Read "Laugh Ash" reviewed by Vic Albani


Dopo lo straordinario lavoro dedicato al Vudù haitiano del 2021 (Path of Seven Colors) anch'esso uscito per la straordinaria Pyroclastic Records di Kris Davis, il batterista, percussionista e compositore Ches Smith, acclamato dal New York Times come “uno dei batteristi più dinamici della scena sperimentale del pianeta," colpisce ancora con un nuovo sorprendente lavoro immensamente variegato, sorprendente (bisognerebbe scriverlo almeno due volte una dopo l'altra) ed imprevedibile sotto ogni punto di vista. La singolare visione musicale del musicista ...

10
Album Review

Mendoza / Hoff / Revels: Echolocation

Read "Echolocation" reviewed by Troy Dostert


Among today's leading guitarists fusing the power of rock and avant-garde jazz--a list that has to include Nels Cline, Marc Ribot, Mary Halvorson and Brandon Seabrook--Ava Mendoza may be the one with the strongest link to the punk tradition. All the evidence one needs is on Echolocation, a project by Revels, her close collaboration with bassist Devin Hoff, on which the pair are joined by saxophonist James Brandon Lewis and drummer Ches Smith. With eight deviously crafted songs expertly navigating ...

10
Album Review

Matt Mitchell: Oblong Aplomb

Read "Oblong Aplomb" reviewed by John Sharpe


On Oblong Aplomb pianist Matt Mitchell pays homage to the drummers in his life. In a way, it can be seen as a follow-up to his debut Fiction (Pi Recordings, 2013). That album, a duet with stickman Ches Smith, originated from Mitchell's practice of warming up for gigs with Tim Berne's Snakeoil by running through a series of etudes he had written to warm up his pianistic muscles. Smith, a colleague in the band, began to play along and the ...

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2

Recording

Ches Smith with Craig Taborn and Mat Maneri release "The Bell" on ECM Records

Ches Smith with Craig Taborn and Mat Maneri release "The Bell" on ECM Records

Source: Michael Ricci

Ches Smith: drums, vibraphone, timpani; Craig Taborn: piano; Mat Maneri: viola The Bell features dynamic chamber music compositions written for masterful improvisers. “The best thing I caught all weekend,” said critic Peter Margasak of the 2014 New York Winter Jazzfest, “was a superb trio led by drummer Ches Smith with pianist Craig Taborn and violist Mat Maneri, which expertly infused seductively narcotic writing with a mixture of brooding melody and rich texture.” Since that NY debut, the trio has become ...

74

Radio

The Jazz Session #294: Ches Smith

The Jazz Session #294: Ches Smith

Source: AAJ Staff


201

Interview

Interview: Ches Smith

Interview: Ches Smith

Source: Ars Nova Workshop

Since finishing his studies at the prestigious Mills College, percussionist Ches Smith has worked across jazz, rock, and experimental categories, proving to be a versatile artist ready for any challenge. Over the years he has worked with Xiu Xiu, John Zorn, Wadada Leo Smith, John Tchicai, Marc Ribot, Fred Frith, Tim Berne, Terry Riley, and many others. He has appeared on over 30 recordings, the most recent being Finally Out Of My Hands with his These Arches ensemble featuring Mary ...

250

Recording

Ches Smith and These Arches - Finally out of My Hands (Skirl, 2010)

Ches Smith and These Arches - Finally out of My Hands (Skirl, 2010)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Drummer Ches Smith leads a very exciting and diverse band on this short but frequently thrilling album. Based on the idea of building bridges and connections between musicians and between composition and improvisation, the group consisting of Tony Malaby on tenor saxophone, Mary Halvorson on guitar, Andrea Parkins on accordion, organ and electronics and Smith on drums develops a very exciting and dynamic conception of music. “Anxiety Disorder" opens the album in a strong and fast fashion with guitar, bass ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Laugh Ash

Pyroclastic Records
2024

buy

Candid

Intakt Records
2024

buy

Asterisms

Tzadik
2024

buy

Most Don't Have Enough

ears&eyes Records
2023

buy

As Things Do

Intakt Records
2023

buy

Oblong Aplomb

Out Of Your Head Records
2023

buy

Secours Meurtriers

From: Séances
By Ches Smith

Interpret It Well

From: Interpret It Well
By Ches Smith

Entity

From: Entity
By Ches Smith

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