Category Archives: Concert And Event Reviews

Concert review: Paul Motian…one of the most influential modern drummers freeing the drummer from strict time-keeping duties!

Venue: the Village Vanguard (NY)
Date: Thursday, July 28th, 2011.

Concert review by Audrey Fort

Personnel: Chris Cheek and Bill McHenry (saxophones), Steve Cardenas (guitar), Mat Maneri (viola), Jacob Sacks (piano), Thomas Morgan (bass) and Paul Motian (drums)

Witnessing Paul Motian perform should be a rite of passage for all drummers. This octogenarian is especially known for his innovative role in pianist Bill Evan’s trio in the 1950’s and 60’s. Along with bassist Scott LaFaro, Motian helped liberate the rhythm section from its role as mere timekeeper. Motian still plays regularly with various groups that he leads in New York City, primarily at the Village Vanguard.

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Two guitarists – Marc Ribot and Nels Cline – two men…at Le Poisson Rouge

Date: June 15, 2011
Venue: Le Poisson Rouge

Concert review by Jim Hoey

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Marc Ribot and Nels Cline paired up for this guitar duo set on the recent anniversary of Le Poisson Rouge (June 15th). For an hour and a half, over the course of 7 morphing, improvisational sound pieces that ranged from country to rock, through psychedelic noise, to jazz and back, the two legends of guitar traded licks, riffs, tones, dissonance, space – and they shared time, all in front of a sold out crowd that likely included musicians, journalists and New Yorkers on the avant-garde scene who remembered the heyday of Tonic and the old Knitting Factory when shows like this were much more common.

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