Chicago Edge Ensemble
“Insidious Anthem”
Featuring Dan Phillips, Hamid Drake, Mars Williams, Jeb Bishop and Krzysztof Pabian.
The long awaited 2rd release from the critically acclaimed Chicago Edge Ensemble is here!
Chicago Edge Ensemble showcases the talents of five jazz musicians, all of whom boast their own extensive resumes of projects and collaborations. Guitarist and composer Dan Phillips leads the quintet which features saxophonist Mars Williams, whose history includes a long list of collaborations and diverse projects from the Psychedelic Furs to Fred Frith to BONESHAKER w/ Paal Nilssen-Love and Kent Kessler (Trost Records). Percussionist Hamid Drake has deep roots in jazz, with his early-career collaborators including Fred Anderson and Don Cherry. Trombonist Jeb Bishop is known for his long involvement in the Vandermark Five as well as many other adventurous collaborations e.g. Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet but also including math jazz punk groups such as Zu and The Flying Luttenbachers. Classically trained bassist Krzysztof Pabian has performed under Pierre Boulez and Daniel Barenboim, and has contributed to a wide array of both avant-garde, classical and jazz projects.
Musicians
Dan Phillips is an American guitarist, composer educator and band leader who has worked professionally in New York, Chicago, Bangkok and Tokyo as well as touring globally. Dan is the leader of the critically acclaimed Chicago Edge Ensemble, Quartet Next, Dan Phillips Trio, Dan Phillips Quartet. Dan has performed with jazz musicians such as Hamid Drake, Gerald Wilson, Danilo Pérez, Hugo Rasmussen, Avreeayl Ra, Matt Darriau, Jim Black, Michael Zerang, Dave Rempis, Jeb Bishop, Mars Williams, Jim Baker, Ben Street, Chris Speed, Mike Sarin and Ed Thigpen and many more.
Mars Williams, an American jazz and rock saxophonist known for his wide-ranging work in free jazz, experimental music, new wave, and funk. Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, and raised in the Chicago area, Williams studied classical clarinet before switching to saxophone and becoming deeply involved in Chicago’s creative music scene, including study with members of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. He was active in avant-garde jazz and improvisational ensembles while also maintaining a high-profile career in popular music, notably as a member of the new wave band The Waitresses in the early 1980s and as a longtime saxophonist for The Psychedelic Furs, touring and recording with the group for decades. Williams co-founded the Grammy-nominated acid jazz group Liquid Soul and performed extensively with experimental groups such as the NRG Ensemble, while also collaborating with artists including Peter Brötzmann, Ken Vandermark, Billy Idol, and Ministry. Known for his powerful tone, stylistic versatility, and fearless improvisation.
Hamid Drake is an American jazz drummer and percussionist. By the close of the 1990s, Hamid Drake was widely regarded as one of the best percussionists in jazz and improvised music. Incorporating Afro-Cuban, Indian, and African percussion instruments and influence, in addition to using the standard trap set, Drake has collaborated extensively with top free jazz improvisers. Drake also has performed world music; by the late 1970s, he was a member of Foday Musa Suso’s Mandingo Griot Society and has played reggae throughout his career. Drake has worked with trumpeter Don Cherry, pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonists Pharoah Sanders, Fred Anderson, Archie Shepp and David Murray and bassists Reggie Workman and William Parker (in a large number of lineups). He studied drums extensively, including eastern and Caribbean styles. He frequently plays without sticks, using his hands to develop subtle commanding undertones. His tabla playing is notable for his subtlety and flair. Drake’s questing nature and his interest in Caribbean percussion led to a deep involvement with reggae.
Jeb Bishop, trombonist/improviser/bandleader Jeb Bishop has been active in jazz and improvised music since the mid-1990s. He first emerged as a key member in the vital scene in Chicago, where he lived until 2012. From then until 2022, he was based in North Carolina and then in Boston, and was part of many collaborations and projects in both those places. He returned to Chicago in spring 2022 and is now once again active there and internationally.
Krzysztof Pabian hails from Europe as a classical-trained bassist. He began his music studies at the age of 8 on piano and switched to bass at age 14. Krzysztof moved to the U.S. in 1993 where he studied at Northwestern University to graduate with two Masters degrees in jazz and classical double bass performance. Krzysztof has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Chicago Civic Orchestra and worked in an array of ensembles under the direction of Pierre Boulez, Daniel Barenboim, Christopher Eshenbach, Zubin Mehta, George Solti, Lawrence Foster, and Pinchas Zukerman to name a few. In the area of jazz Krzysztof has performed with Danilo Pérez, Judy Roberts, Eddie Henderson, Max Roach, Ron Blake, Hamid Drake, Mars Williams, Jarek Smietana and the Lincoln Center Jazz Sextet. Krzysztof has toured throughout North America and Europe with various groups and configurations.
Reviews
“Dan Phillips leads a quintet with muscle and a big Chicago sound and memorable compositions.”
The Wire
“Chicago jazz is the complexity of the postmodern sound with a predisposition for rump shaking. The quintet rarely lowers the flame from boiling.”
All About Jazz
“Fans of both traditional and more adventurous jazz will find much to like here. Indeed, the Chicago Edge Ensemble does manage to succeed in representing the city’s diverse musical roots, and in a highly enjoyable fashion to boot.”
Avant Music News