Bob Marsh - Jim Ryan - Spirit - THE SPIRIT MOVES US: I've been listening to Jim Ryan & Bob Marsh for quite some many years now, free jazz all the way. Bob was up in the Olympia area several years ago (with Jack Wright, I believe), & I got to meet/greet with him, so I'm fairly familiar with his antics on a more personal level... never actually played with him, though I'd certainly like to. Jim's sent us numerous CD's for review, most notably in issue 50 and issue 59. This is the first I've heard this character "Spirit" (percussion) though, & it adds one helluva breadth to the improvisations. The other strong factor in the recordings' favor is the recording itself... recorded in Bob's studio this May, it captures every (single) little nuance of the straight-ahead improvisations... I mean, I didn't even have to wear the headphones, & the levels on the speakers were only just under half - & it KICKS! The entire session is in a groove of it's own, & those who have played improvised will recognize (after only the first few bars) that these guys are ON IT! It's striking that they are so comfortable with each other, since that's usually the downfall of any group that's trying to do it in the "free zone"... either they try to "outclass" each other, or there's no sense of mutual direction... in this case, though, nothing could be further from the truth... this is absolutely the tightest improv set I've listened to this year. Bob's cello is relaxed, yet guiding, Jim's reeds, kalimba & other artistry are solid, & Spirits' percussion is crystal clear. Though there are 8 "movements", it's really just one continuous session... this not only gets my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, it's also the "PICK" of this issue for "best improvised trio"! Get more information at myspace.com/thespiritmovesus & tell 'em Zzaj sent you! Rotcod Zzaj
Dick Metcalf, aka Rotcod Zzaj
5308 65th Avenue SE
Lacey, WA 98513
Email: zzajunique@hotmail.com
Zine site: http://zzaj.freehostia.com/
THE SPIRIT MOVES US RELEASES A NEW CD JUNE 26TH AT FLUX53 OAKLAND, CA
"The Spirit Moves Us" is being released by jimzeen productions . . . for more info contact Jim Ryan at jimzeen@gmail.com
The Spirit Moves Us is a trio of veteran improvisers flowing to the East Bay from the mid-west (Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, & St. Paul) through r&b, jazz, and avant experimental groups. Eastbania (San Francisco East Bay Area) has been home to them for many years now, and they have worked together frequently in various configurations. Spirit on percussion is considered by local and national aficionados as an original master of the free form jazz genre. Bob Marsh ..o has brought the instrument to an awesome freshness and versatility, and Jim Ryan on flute, saxophones, kalimba, spoken word has performed regularly throughout the country and locally with his Forward Energy bands. For CDs by these players, go to www.edgetonerecords.com
Wed 10/14 7:30 PMMeridian Gallery [535 Powell Street SF] Meridian Music: Composers in Performance presents Doctor Bob. Doctor Bob is Bob Marsh (cello, voice, electronics) and David Michalak
(lap steel guitar, electronics, Skatchbox). David brings a cinematic
sensibility from his many years as a filmmaker, creating evocative
sonic scenes while Bob uses various methods to create dadistic word
pictures. They explore the farthest reaches of their instruments while
providing bitter medicine for these times of socio-politico-economic
dystopia.
Hi there, Moovers and Shakers: give a little listen to the interpretations of Bryan Day, ZzBrr, Grant Strombeck and Massimo Falascone of Bob Marsh's graphic compositions Les Michelins IX
Olde skozey fetisch performance newly posted @ YouTube. It was the first ever Noise Pancakes at Pubis Noir. There were three audience members in attendance.
