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Yoni Kretzmer
Yoni Kretzmer's New Dilemma: Months, Weeks and Days
by Glenn Astarita
Tenor saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer is not one to rest on his laurels or pursue straight and narrow musical paths as his discography consists of various ensemble configurations and objectives. With this hybrid chamber jazz and improvisation-based sextet, the musicians interpret the leader's compositions, structures and outlines via improvisational means. The ensemble delves into the experimental scheme of things, although these pieces do project semi-structured vibes, topped with gradual buildups, streaming strings passages and elongated unison choruses. Along with ...
read moreYoni Kretzmer / Jason Ajemian / Kevin Shea: Until Your Throat Is Dry
by John Sharpe
Israeli-born, NYC-based tenor saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer convenes a co-operative trio on Until Your Throat Is Dry, released on his own OutNow imprint. Completing the line up are drummer Kevin Shea, best known for his role in the stylistically promiscuous Mostly Other People Do The Killing and the anarchic Talibam!, and bassist Jason Ajemian, from Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra and Chicago Underground Trio. Across four collective constructs their modus operandi touches on both free jazz and free improv, shifting organically ...
read moreYoni Kretzmer: Five
by John Sharpe
NYC-based Israeli saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer has pulled together a dynamite cast for the debut of his quintet. Kretzmer's thoughtfully arranged compositions engender classic small group free jazz by what comes across as a little big band. It's the sort of session you might have found on the Black Saint label in its heyday, but given a twist of contemporary attitude. Kretzmer makes full use of his crew, not only as adventurous soloists, but also as seasoned ensemble players able to ...
read moreYoni Kretzmer 2 Bass Quartet: Book II
by John Sharpe
One of the major innovations of the 1960s New Thing was to liberate the so called rhythm section from time keeping duties. The role of the bass in particular was transformed, allowing it leeway to sit alongside the front line. But there was still sometimes a need to impart momentum. One solution was to double up, a gambit first utilized in Ornette Coleman's Free Jazz (Atlantic, 1960), but then elsewhere such as John Coltrane's sessions for Africa/Brass (Impulse!, 1961) and ...
read moreYoni Kretzmer: This Is Our Very First Album Together
by Glenn Astarita
Distinguished Israeli improvising, avant-jazz saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer has several albums to his credit with fellow countrymen and American notables, such as drummers Mike Pride, Andrew Drury and bassist Jason Ajemian. Since he's recently moved to Brooklyn, N.Y., the artist ingratiates his faculties into the region's intensely fertile improvising scene, where almost anything goes when the studio tapes roll. The album moniker is rather humorously integrated into the actual song titles on a per-track basis, but the trio's focus ...
read moreYoni Kretzmer 66 Boxes: Graceless
by Eyal Hareuveni
Israeli, New York-based tenor saxophonist Yoni Kretzmer returns on Graceless to an old passion of his--writing music that attempts to bridge the forward-thinking jazz from the school of sax heroes Tim Berne, Ellery Eskelin, and European jazz with elements from contemporary chamber music. Kretzmer's debut album as a leader, Yoni Kretzmer's New Dilemma (Earsay, 2009) focused on the same idea, but now with a better and varied experience and is accompanied by resourceful and opinionated musicians, he comes closer to ...
read moreTake Five With Yoni Kretzmer
by Yoni Kretzmer
Meet Yoni Kretzmer:Before moving to New York City in 2010, Jerusalem born tenor saxophonist and composer Yoni Kretzmer was an active member in the growing Tel Aviv nu-music scene leading various groups such as New Dilemma (chamber/free jazz string quintet) and Far From Home (free/folk quintet with two acoustic guitars). For the premier of New Dilemma at the Jerusalem/Khan Theater, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival Producer Barack Weiss wrote for NANA, It has been a long time since I ...
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From: WeightBy Yoni Kretzmer