While we're all celebrating the first time in 44 years that a jazz artist has won a Grammy for Album of the Year, our man "Gnarls" Cline has been biz-izz-izzy. But don't take our word for it...
Just completed, no release date:
"I was commissioned by author/producer David Breskin to compose and record pieces for an upcoming book on the art of legendary L.A. artist Ed Ruscha. The book, called Dirty Baby, will be a recontextualization of Ruscha's work as envisioned by Mr. Breskin, who selected and organized the pieces to accompany his poems."
"It will be divided into "Side A" and "Side B" on two CDs that will accompany the art/writing, with each "side" dealing with different aspects of Ruscha's slightly lesser-known work form the late 80s and 90s: The "Silouette Paintings" and the "Cityscapes". It is a brilliant (to my mind) recontextualization, and there were two ensembles put together for each "side". Personnel for Side A: Bill Barrett, Wayne Peet, Glenn Taylor, Jon Brion, Jeremy Drake, Danny Frankel, Devin Hoff, Scott Amendola and yours truly. For Side B: Scott, Devin, Alex Cline, Vinny Golia, Dan Clucas, Jeff Gauthier, Jessica Catron, Jeremy Drake, Brad Dutz and yours truly. Most of these musicians are, like Mr. Ruscha, talents from the City of Lost Angels. Love them! The session was produced by Mr. Breskin and engineered by the amazing Ron St. Germain. I wrote 39 pieces of music for this; 33 of them short pieces for the relatively intimate "Cityscapes" on "Side B". The session was recorded and mixed in 8 days! Stay tuned..."
Other recording at year's end/beginning:
"The Jeff Gauthier Goatette's next Cryptogramophone release was recorded in early January. It is space jazz/prog/Third Stream steam for the thinking lunatic. Personnel: Jeff Gauthier, David Witham, Joel Hamilton, Alex Cline, yours truly, who contributed 2 new songs to the stew. To be released later this year (summer?).
"A track for Lydia Lunch's next online salvo, involving many artists from around the globe. My track saw Becca Michalek, Doug Lunn, Dan Clucas and Brian Cristopherson wailing at Scott Fraser's Mt. Washington studio. No release date.
"Sounds for Italian sound duo My Cat Is An Alien's proposed multi-disc box set dealing with outer space comnmunication. Guests!
"Mike Watt and The Black Gang's recording session had to be postponed due to Watt's illness in December and my messed up left arm/hand in January. Set for early April.
Just released:
Steven Bernstein: Diaspora Suite (Tzadik CD)
"A wild and wonderful slab of "Radical Jewish Culture" from a whirlwind session recorded in Berkeley last year. Personnel: Mr. B, Ben Goldberg, Jeff Cressman (who also engineered!), Peter Apfelbaum, John Schott, Devin Hoff, Scott Amendola (misspelled on the CD cover - ooops!), Josh Jones, yours truly. Will Bernard added some post-production dabs. I am proud of this one."
Soon to be released:
"A double CD + DVD compilation celebrating the 10th anniversary of Cryptogramophone Records. Besides a bunch of fabulous previously-released stuff from the Crypto stable of uncategorizable talents, there will be a DVD which includes an hour-long feature on my band that pays homage to the music of the great Andrew Hill. It includes 'live' footage from New York's Jazz Standard and Los Angeles' now-defunct CryptoNight at Club Tropical, plus some brief interview footage with members of the group. It was put together by the wonderful pianist David Witham (see: Jeff Gauthier Goatette, among other things). Also included on the DVD is an amazing "video" by Carole Kim of a piece by the improv trio of Jeff Gauthier/G.E. Stinson/Alex Cline. Beautiful... I know that few people buy compilation CDs, but this one is pretty great, if you like great.
"What's next? Wilco. And 2 gigs in Europe with the visionary trumpeter/composer Wadada Leo Smith."
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
