Abbey Rader

Abbey Rader and John McMinn: Two As One

by Hrayr Attarian
October 16, 2021

Drummer Abbey Rader and saxophonist & pianist John McMinn have forged a seamless camaraderie and sublime creative synergy over the course of 30-plus years. In March of 2020, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, they were obliged to stop performing together. Sixteen months later they reunited in Miami for a poignant and moving set of entirely improvised music which Rader released under the title Two As One. From the start, the duo sets a distinctly ethereal mood which permeates ...

Abbey Radar and John McMinn: Duo from the Heart

by Hrayr Attarian
July 7, 2020

Drummer Abbey Rader is a nuanced and expressive percussionist and an adventurous and introspective improviser. His body of work of over two dozen releases is, perhaps, one of the most mystical on today's creative music scene. The sublime Duo from the Heart is one of his more intimate recordings pairing him with long time collaborator pianist and saxophonist John McMinn. Recorded in McMinn's home, the seven spontaneous performances that comprise the album range from fiery and raw to ...

Abbey Rader West Coast Quartet: Second Gathering

by Hrayr Attarian
November 20, 2018

Drummer Abbey Rader is a consummate improviser and an innovative bandleader. His intrepid creativity evolves and transforms with each recording. The 2018 Second Gathering is no exception. On it Rader leads his West Coast Quartet on five spontaneously composed multilayered tracks that bear his indelible mark of cerebral spirituality. The ambience of “Uncovering the Jewel in the Lotus" is that of an eastern Zen serenity. Bassist Kyle Motl's reverberating strums and Rader's rustling percussion build an angular rhythmic ...

Abbey Rader and John McMinn: Phenobarbital Sessions

by Hrayr Attarian
February 2, 2018

Improvised soundtracks in motion pictures have a venerable tradition. Perhaps the best known among them remains trumpeter Miles Davis' Ascenceur Pour L'Echafaut (Fontana, 1958). Film director Jorge Rubiera, who had made a documentary on the intrepid drummer Abbey Rader, approached him for a score for his project “Phenobarbital." Rader together with longtime collaborator saxophonist John McMinn spontaneously created music for Rubiera. The resulting Phenobarbital Sessions is as unique and as dramatic as the artistic visions of all involved.The ...

Abbey Rader: Ritual

by Hrayr Attarian
January 25, 2018

The stimulating Ritual is an energetic and intricate improvised session that drummer Abbey Rader lead on the 27th January of 2016. Although this absorbing music is free flowing and created on the spot it has a definite, fluid structure to it. The primary reason for this is the shared musical vision among Rader and his side men, bassist Kyle Motl and tenor saxophonist Drew Ceccato, both long term collaborators. The melancholic and expectant title track, for instance, has ...

Abbey Rader in the Spotlight: Ritual and Phenobarbital Sessions

by Kevin Press
October 27, 2017

There are no springs in Coral Springs, Florida. What the Broward County city does have is a remarkable ability to adapt. Two of its most popular landmarks, The Coral Springs Center for the Arts and The Museum of Coral Springs History, were originally designed as a gymnasium and real estate office respectively. Despite its surprising lack of groundwater, this planned community northwest of Fort Lauderdale is nothing if not creative. Perhaps that's got something to do with free ...

Abbey Rader's West Coast Quartet: First Gathering

by John Sharpe
April 4, 2017

Veteran drummer Abbey Rader's foray to California adds a further chapter to the welcome renaissance of reedman Peter Kuhn. Both men were part of the New York loft jazz scene in the 1970s, but while Kuhn eventually dropped from view in the early '80s, Rader persisted, first moving to Europe, but later returning to Florida where he recorded with saxophonist Dave Liebman, and then spent five years with violinist Billy Bang. Now into his seventies, Rader continues to helm freewheeling ...

Abbey Rader Releases Two Diverse Albums On Bandcamp; The Fiery "Ritual" And The Meditative Soundtrack "Phenobarbital Sessions"

Source: Kai Rader
November 7, 2017

Legendary free jazz drummer, Abbey Rader, is back with two new albums. Ritual is a burning trio set with bassist Kyle Motl and saxophonist Drew Ceccato. Phenobarbital Sessions is a deeply moving set of 16 improvised tracks recorded for a short film by Jorge Rubiera. It features Abbey on drums, percussion, and gongs, while longtime collaborator, John McMinn stretches out on saxophone and piano. These albums follow 2016’s successful Reunion that paired the Abbey Rader Quartet with Kidd Jordan. Initial ...
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Abbey Rader & Kidd Jordan Release First Album Together - "Reunion"

Source: Kai Rader
August 2, 2016

In a busy summer, Abbey Rader has released his second recording in as many months. Reunion is a collaboration with saxophonist Kidd Jordan. The album is their first together. It follows the June release of It's Time, a duet session with Abbey and longtime collaborator Peter Ponzol. The chain of events that led to Reunion can be traced to the early 2000s. Abbey was on tour with Billy Bang and Frank Lowe when the band performed at the Zeitgeist Arts ...
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Abbey Rader Releases First Album With West Coast Quartet

Source: Kai Rader
June 16, 2015

The Abbey Rader West Coast Quartet was formed in January 2015 when Abbey Rader, Peter Kuhn, Kyle Motl and Drew Ceccato met in California for the first time. Rader and Kuhn are both practicing Buddhists, and the common ground created an ever-present air of spirituality. First Gathering was born out of Rader’s desire to create music based on the Four Noble Truths, the guiding principles of Buddhism. These teachings speak to fundamental truths about human existence and provide a path ...
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Drummer Abbey Rader Releases Smoldering New Trio Album - "The Message" Available August 26

Source: Kai Rader
August 26, 2014

The Message captures the spiritual sound of Abbey Rader and two members of his acclaimed quartet, John McMinn and Noah Brandmark. The album is their first as a trio and the latest chapter in their quest for musical unity, following Live at PAX (2011) and Reach for the Skies (2013), named runner-up for Album of the Year by Avant Music News. The longtime collaborators push each other through relentless explorations as they seek to interpret the three phases of life: ...
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Enter the "Abbey Rader - Reach for the Skies" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz
November 25, 2013

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the ABRAY Productions “Abbey Rader Quartet - Reach for the Skies“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on December 23rd. Click here to enter the contest (Becoming a fan of Abbey Rader at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! Your Friends at ABRAY Productions About Reach for the Skies Reach for the Skies is the second album from the ...
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Abbey Rader To Release New Album

Source: Kai Rader
October 16, 2013

Drummer Abbey Rader is set to release Reach for the Skies on October 29. This is the second album from his quartet. Their first effort, Live at PAX, was named one of the “Best of 2012" by Avant Music News. The personnel stays the same with John McMinn and Noah Brandmark on horns and Kyle Motl on bass. This session captures the unit in peak form. After two years, their improvisations reach a high point in pursuit of the ultimate ...
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Enter the "Abbey Rader - Live at PAX" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz
April 21, 2012

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the ABRAY “Abbey Rader - Live at PAX“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on May 21st. Click here to enter the contest (Following Abbey Rader at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.) Good luck! About Abbey Rader A powerful and relentless searcher for the union of spirit and body in his interpretations of rhythm and melody, Abbey Rader was raised in the ...
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Abbey Rader Featured In Jazz & Blues Florida

Source: Jazz & Blues Florida
April 1, 2012

"As heard on his latest recording, Live at PAX, the drummer’s powerful pulses and dynamic stick work propel nine group improvisations by Rader, saxophonists John McMinn and Noah Brandmark and bassist Kyle Motl." —Bob Weinberg for Jazz & Blues Florida Abbey Rader and his Generations Quartet are the cover story in April's edition of Jazz & Blues Florida. The feature explores Rader's roots his musical perspective and the new album. The band is hosting a CD Release Party at PAX ...
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Drummer Abbey Rader Returns with New Live Album

Source: Kai Rader
February 24, 2012

After a long spiritual hiatus, drummer Abbey Rader returned to playing music in late 2011 with a string of concerts at PAX, a performing arts space in Miami, Florida. His new album, Live at PAX, captures a selection of those performances featuring his trio with John McMinn on horns and Kyle Motl on bass and his Generations quartet with the addition of Noah Brandmark also on horns. The music moves from meditative to hard-driving and back again, revealing a range ...
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Drummer Abbey Rader Launches New Website

Source: All About Jazz
September 5, 2006

The new abbeyrader.com is built around the two pursuits of Abbey Rader - music and Buddhism/ martial arts. The website features video of performances with David Liebman, Billy Bang, Frank Lowe and others, free MP3 downloads, albums for sale, photo galleries and more.

More about Abbey Rader:

Abbey lived in Europe in the late seventies and all through the eighties, where he performed with John Handy and Dr L. Subramaniam in quartet, as well as in trio with John and ...
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