In the summer of 2001 US percussionist Stephen Flinn (originally from Seattle, then resident in NYC) visited London and gave a series of performances with UK improvisers such as Gail Brand, Lol Coxhill, Marcio Mattos, Hugh Metcalfe, Maggie Nicols, Ian Smith, Tony Wren etc. In December of the same year he invited Tony to New York to play a duo set at the Knitting Factory, and arranged a recording session at Globe Studios in the Meat Packing district. For that date they were joined by guitarist Bruce Eisenbeil (he and Wren had not met before). The ensuing session was remarkably productive. The resulting CD has now appeared on Vinny Golia’s Nine Winds label. Stephanie Mauer’s package design may not give much away, but the music is totally improvised, displaying spontaneous structures and detail, beautifully captured by engineer Patrick Derivaz. All the tracks are relatively short; duos by each possible pairing are included although most are trios.
Keep the Meter Running (9 Winds 0246) (2003) Stephen Flinn (drums) Bruce Eisenbeil (electric and acoustic guitars) Tony Wren (acoustic bass) |
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Critical Acclaim for Keep The Meter Running
2003 – Top 10 New Jazz Releases ~ Ken Waxman, JazzWeekly
“About as revolutionary as music can actually get.” ~ Ben Watson, THE WIRE
“Whether pairing off or discoursing, these three energize electrons on command. This trio makes music that has gripping tenacity.” ~ Frank Rubolino, Cadence Magazine
“Startling” ~ Ken Waxman, JazzWeekly
“Never less than provocative. Rich impressions are left in the mind.” ~ Jason Bivens, Bagatellen
“They explore the condensed form with rigor and constantly sustain interest.” ~ Dan Warburton, Paris Transatlantic
“A stimulating record.” ~ Massimo Ricci, Touching Extremes
“The music gushes like a dense and magnetic resonant whirl, an impromptu meeting of three strong personalities that sends out overwhelming sparks.” ~ Vittorio Lo Conte, All About Jazz – Italy
Tony Wren
has had two lives in improvised music. From 1971 to 1983 he appeared with many seminal UK groups including Chamberpot, London Bass Trio, Mama Lapato, Voicings, Three Fish and a Bicycle), co-founded the London Musicians’ Collective and was a key member of the Bead Records committee. Since 1997 he has re-emerged to form the acclaimed Quatuor Accorde (Emanem 4050) with Phil Durrant, Charlotte Hug and Mark Wastell, and FOUR with Howard Riley, Larry Stabbins and Mark Sanders (Emanem 4067). He also works in various groups with Phil Wachsmann, Marcio Mattos, Matt Hutchinson, John Butcher, Steve Noble, Roger Turner, Tony Bevan, Gail Brand, Maggie Nicols and many others in the UK, and with LaDonna Smith in the USA; he also makes occasional collaborations with US pioneers Jack Wright and Milo Fine. His newest project is the Unsolicited Music Ensemble with Martin Küchen and Raymond Strid from Sweden (Slam 250).
Stephen Flinn
has been a professional musician for over twenty years, performing most styles of western music throughout the United States and Europe. He has performed and/or recorded with Sam Most, Lynn Johnson, Bruce Eisenbeil, Tony Wren, Wolfgang Fuchs, Marcello Blanco, Jeremy Drake, Ayal Moaz, Jason Michaels (AACM), Jack Wright, and many European Improvisers.
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