In the contemporary landscape where avant-garde composition frequently untethers itself from historical anchors, Norwegian Hardanger fiddler and composer Benedicte Maurseth has forged a radically different path. Her latest release, Always and Never the Same, issued on LP, represents a landmark convergence between traditional Norwegian folk forms and the rigorous, experimental sensibilities of contemporary chamber music. … Read more
In the contemporary landscape of experimental, folk-fusion, and avant-garde music, few releases manage to straddle the perilous divide between deep-rooted traditionalism and forward-thinking modern composition quite like Always and Never the Same. Released on LP, this mesmerizing collaborative effort features renowned Norwegian Hardanger fiddler Benedicte Maurseth working alongside the intrepid contemporary chamber ensemble Ensemble neoN. … Read more
Executive Overview In the ever-evolving landscape of contemporary European jazz, true generational talent emerges only once in a blue moon. With the release of her debut double-vinyl set, Don’t Look Behind, Always Forward (ZenneZ Records), 21-year-old Polish composer, pianist, and electronic artist Hania Derej has cemented her status as a formidable creative force. Recorded primarily … Read more
Executive Overview In the rapidly shifting landscape of modern European jazz, few arrivals have been heralded with as much quiet astonishment as the emergence of Polish composer, pianist, and electronic artist Hania Derej. At just 21 years of age, Derej has already cultivated a compositional breadth that defies her years—spanning intricate jazz frameworks, classical chamber … Read more
Executive Overview In the contemporary landscape of improvised music, few pianists approach the instrument with the deeply philosophical and kinetic mindset of Malcolm Braff. Rather than viewing the piano as a vehicle for individual virtuosity, Braff regards it as a familiar extension of the physical body—a tool to facilitate collective action. His latest release, the … Read more
Executive Overview In the contemporary landscape of improvised music, few artists approach the piano with the philosophical detachment and physical immediacy of Malcolm Braff. For Braff, the instrument is not an altar of self-expression, but a conduit for shared energy—a medium through which he can step aside and observe the ripples his actions send through … Read more
Executive Overview In the contemporary landscape of improvised music, few releases dare to dismantle conventional notions of rhythm, duration, and ensemble identity with the surgical precision and visceral joy found on Outside. Featuring the visionary pianist Malcolm Braff alongside the restless creative force of Swedish bassist Petter Eldh and the explosive, whiplash styling of Austrian … Read more
Executive Overview Pianist and composer Malcolm Braff has never been one to comfortably occupy the conventional role of a jazz musician. To Braff, the piano is not a badge of identity, nor is performance an ego-driven exercise in self-expression. Instead, it is an action of the body, a physical conduit, and a momentary negotiation of … Read more
Executive Overview In the contemporary landscape of improvised music, few pianists approach their craft with the philosophical detachment and rigorous academic inquiry of Malcolm Braff. For Braff, the piano is not an extension of the ego nor a vehicle for personal mythology; rather, it is a familiar physical apparatus through which he can momentarily disappear. … Read more
Executive Overview In the contemporary landscape of improvised music, few artists approach the piano with the philosophical rigor and somatic detachment of Malcolm Braff. Known for viewing his instrument not as a personal extension of identity, but merely as a familiar conduit for physical action, Braff has spent decades peering past the traditional guardrails of … Read more
