The Squid's Ear Magazine


Jones, Ed / Emil Karlsen: From Where Light Falls (FMR)

Eight improvisations named for the month of recording during the challenges of pandemic from British tenor saxophonist Ed Jones and Norwegian drummer/percussionist Emil Karlsen, often reflective work that explores timbral possibilities on each instrument through flowing lines and deceptively active investigations in a variety of empathetic and sublimely ruminative approaches.
 

Price: $14.95



Quantity:

In Stock

Quantity in Basket: None

Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 3.00 units


EU & UK Customers:
Discogs.com can handle your VAT payments
So please order through Discogs

Sample The Album:





product information:

Personnel:



Ed Jones-tenor saxophone

Emil Karlsen-drums


Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.




UPC: 642415162876

Label: FMR
Catalog ID: FMR 610
Squidco Product Code: 30338

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2021
Country: UK
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel
Recorded at Leeds Conservatoire, UK, in October, November and December, 2020, by Emil Karlsen.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

Award winning saxophonist Ed Jones and young drummer Emil Karlsen comes together for their first outing From Where Light Falls on FMR records. Consisting of 8 distinct improvisations, this record showcases their journey as a duo documented through the lockdown months in the autumn of 2020. With a shared sense of aesthetics, they aim to express themselves freely through the boundaries of their instruments with an explorative mindset towards the sax/drums format. They are both active on the UK/European jazz and improvised music scene collaborating with musicians such as Evan Parker, John Stevens, London Improvisers Orchestra and Philipp Wachsmann to mention some. 'from where light falls' represents a new explorative duo on the improvised music scene.

liner notes:

"The music on From Where Light Falls was born out of a desire to create new music in a time of immense challenges and restrictions for everyone in the world. I first met Emil when he was an undergraduate student on the Jazz Pathway at Leeds Conservatoire. Last autumn of 2020 he joined the Master's Post Graduate course and we discussed the possibility of setting up a play together settling on a regular Monday night meeting with social distancing and other precautionary safety measures in place After a few of these and listening back to some phone recordings it became clear that there was a strong musical connection developing. We then planned a series of sessions to properly record and document these Monday Night meetings. These recordings are from October to December. Every Monday we would finish playing and exit onto the streets of an eerily deserted city night. This music isn't about that specifically, but it was created from that time."-Ed Jones



"This CD, which came out after a forced pandemic hiatus for both musicians, is a slow burner. Track by track, minute after minute, it won me over so to say that it is (now that this year comes to a closure) one of the best duos I've listened to so far. I'm a big fan of reeds-percussion duos and have listened to a lot of them, but that makes is really hard to feel that there's something new its time. This is one of those times.

Ed Jones plays tenor sax while Emil Karlsen is on percussion and drums. Their task is one the difficult ones. The sax-drums duo in free jazz and improvised music had, by now, built a strong tradition of masterpieces. Thankfully for them (and for us, the listeners) they choose to present their truth without follow a certain path or tradition. I guess the pandemic dystopia that has hit so hard all musicians played an important role on this. Talking to any musician right now you get the feeling that they need to play, that playing for them has the urgency that never had before. From Where The Light Falls seems like it was an important procedure for both artists.

I must say here that FMR by being such a prolific label has had some misses here and there. But the label's recent years output is of the highest standard, making it one of the best in improvised music right now.

A duo by definition is a laconic statement when it comes to music. Still it is a totally different situation than playing solo. For me, as a listener, the key to a successful duo is not two strong individual voices but the interaction between the artists, the way they disavow their egos for the collective way of thinking and playing. Both the musicians here think and play in this manner.

The tenor sax can be intimidating and "heavy" many times. Pardon my minimum technical knowledge but as a listener I feel the burden of its jazz tradition plus that it can saturate a recording if the sax player feels like it. Ed Jones seems like the ideal partner. His playing is subtle, relaxed but focused on what Karlsen is doing. And how to respond. He improvises in short phrases blending melody in his improvisations. Karlsen has this ability of being the leader while he is not. Even though I'm familiar with his work, I am too impressed by his playing. The way he utilizes his drums, makes his percussion work so vital for this recording. He is definitely not the one who just keeps the tempo.

All eight tracks of the CD refer to a month, probably reference to the time spent during the pandemic. It seems that they took advantage of the time they had in isolation and this CD proves it."-Fotis Nikolakopoulos, The Free Jazz Collective


Get additional information at The Free Jazz Collective

Artist Biographies

"An award winning Uk jazz saxophonist/composer who has been based in London for over 25 years. He works in the UK and internationally with a wide range of his own projects and collaborations.

His experience as a sideman reflects his diverse musical interests: He has worked with Free jazz pioneers John Stevens, Evan Parker. US Jazz Legends Horace Silver, George Benson, Dianne Reeves, Dr Lonnie Smith, Charles Earland, and Clifford Jarvis. Leading Uk Jazz Musicians such as Dick Heckstall-Smith, District Six, Jason Rebello, Orphy Robinson, Claire Martin, Don Weller, Byron Wallen, Tim Richard's Great Spirit, Damon Brown, Monk Liberation Front, Jonathan Gee, Larry Bartley's Justus. As a session musician he has performed and recorded with crossover projects such as Incognito, Us3, Jamie Cullum , Terry Callier, and Nostalgia 77, through to R/B legends such as D'Angelo, Bootsy Collins, Chaka Khan Tina Turner, Carlene Anderson, Noel Mccoy and Omar.

He has received numerous composition commissions including:

Arts Council Composition Grant:The Pipers Tales 1993

BBC Jazz on 3 and Bath Festival to write and perform with a 10 piece Uk/Scandinavian electro/acoustic ensemble Burn,(co-led with Finnish Trumpeter Mika Myllari)(2000)

Southern Arts:"Triptych (3 accidents)" (2004) Woodwinds/Piano/Beats/Electronics inspired by the work of the English painter Francis Bacon.

British Council to compose and perform 1000 Plateaus based on the writings of Gilles Deleuze as part of Expo 2005 in Japan.

Most recently in 2014 a commission from London Jazz Festival in collaboration with The Guildhall School Of Music Jazz Orchestra.

In 2016 Leeds College Of Music Jazz Orchestra Commissioned a new suite of compositions entitled "Pathways"

He formed his first group "Ed Jones Quartet" in 1987. They were the first band to play at the original Jazz Cafe London.He became a regular performer on the emerging Acid Jazz scene at clubs such as The Wag and Dingwalls, and was signed by Giles Peterson recording his first album "The Homecoming" (Acid Jazz, 1989).

During the 1990's he formed new groups, toured the Uk and Europe and recorded a further 3 critically acclaimed solo albums"Pipers Tales" (ASC, 1995).''Out Here" (ASC, 1997)."Seven Moments" (ASC 2002).His 5th album "A view from the..." featuring the ed/ge project was released in spring 2004. This was a Hip/Hop/Beats/ Big Band collaboration with US3 programmer/producer Geoff Wilkinson.

In 2005 he formed Killer Shrimp (co-led) with Trumpeter Damon Brown. The group recorded the highly acclaimed Sincerely Whatever (33 records) in 2006 mixing dance genres and electronica with acoustic jazz. The cd was top of many critics best of list that year and was nominated for Jazz cd of the year 2007 parliamentary jazz awards. The group were awarded Best Jazz Ensemble 2007 at the same awards, and in 2010 released their follow up album Whatever Sincerely(Tales from the Baltic Wharf).

In 2011 he formed a new acoustic contemporary jazz quartet which is currently touring and releasing their first recording "For Your Ears Only" in Autumn 2017. The Quartet features some of the Uk's finest creative jazz musicians.

Pianist Ross Stanley is just about everyones first call these days, leading to work recently with US sax giant Seamus Blake.

Bassist Riaan Vosloo leads his acclaimed 12's Trio,and collaborates with the likes of Nostalgia 77,Keith Tippett,and Richard Fairhurst.

Drummer Tim Gilles won the Daily Telegraph Young Composer of the Year Award in 1992 at the age of 12 and has gone on to work with Stan Sulzmann, Iain Ballamy, Julian Arguelles,and Tom Arthurs as well co-leading his award winning group Fraud with saxophonist James Alsop

In 2016 he formed the Free Improvisation Trio Bad Ash with Mark Sanders (Drums) and Mark Lewandowski (Double Bass), the group toured the Uk with support from The Arts Council Of England with collaborations along the way with Matthew Bourne, Paul Dunmall, and Corey Mwamba,Alex Bonney and Nick Malcom.

He also works internationally with Scandinavian Trio Stekpana, Finnish trumpeter and composer Mika Myllari and Tokyo-London Jazz connection with Yutaka Shina (piano).

Londonjazznews.com recently included two of his 2016 concerts in their best of year performances.

A Committed Educator, Ed is currently a Principal Lecturer on the Undergraduate and Post Graduate Jazz and Popular Music Courses at Leeds College Of Music and Saxophone/Ensemble tutor for The Yamaha Jazz Summer School at Falmouth University."

-Ed Jones Website (https://www.edjonesjazz.co.uk/about)
11/20/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Emil Karlsen is a Norwegian improvising drummer currently based in the UK. Described as a "significant addition to the UK free jazz scene" and an "exceptional improv drummer", he's establishing himself on the improvised music circuit working the span from free improvisation to free jazz. Occupied with the exploring timbral possibilities of the drum kit, he performs with Philipp Wachsmann, Matthew Bourne, Phil Durrant, Maggie Nicols, Ed Jones, and the London Improvisers Orchestra to mention some."

-Emil Karlsen Website (https://emilkarlsen.com/)
11/20/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Oktober 6:29

2. November Pt. 1 9:01

3. November Pt. 2 6:02

4. November Pt. 3 5:16

5. December Pt. 1 8:48

6. December Pt. 2 12:03

7. December Pt. 3 9:18

8. December Pt. 4 5:49

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Duo Recordings
Saxophone & Drummer / Percussionist Duos

Search for other titles on the label:
FMR.


Recommended & Related Releases:
Spaces Unfolding + Pierre Alexandre Tremblay
Shadow Figures
(Bead)
Performing together as Spaces Unfolding since 2021, the trio of Neil Metcalfe on flute, Philipp Wachsmann on violin, and Emil Karlsen on drums expands their initial focus on acoustic exploration, as heard on this debut album, with the addition of Pierre Alexandre Tremblay on electronics, blending acoustic and electronic elements to reflect on the evolving influence of technology in their sound.
Edwards, John / Emil Karlsen / Dominic Lash
Action Theory
(Spoonhunt)
A new take on the classic guitar, bass & drums trio line-up, bringing together three generations of improvising musicians--John Edwards on double bass, Emil Karlsen on drums and Dominic Lash, more typically a double bassist, here on a Telecaster electric guitar--in five studio recordings of great intensity and varying direction fueled by a minute attention to detail.
Butcher, John / Dominic Lash / Emil Karlsen
Here and How
(Bead)
Impeccably recorded in the studio, the long-running and varied collaborations of saxophonist John Butcher, double bassist Dominic Lash and drummer Emil Karlsen come together for the first time as a trio, recording eight succinct improvisations of remarkable technique and nearly telepathic dialog, allowing space for each player to display their masterful skill.
Jones / Lash / Wastel
Meditating With The Father, Son, And Holy Ghost
(Confront)
An interpretation and reimagining of the opening track of Coltrane's Meditations, from the UK trio of Ed Jones on tenor & soprano saxophones, Dominic Lash on double bass and Mark Wastell on tam tam, gongs, cymbal & percussion, performed live at Cafe OTO in London in 2023, transforming the original recording's density into a slowly opening, evolving work of beauty.
Light.Box + Emil Karlsen
The Undanced Dance
(Bead)
The improvising duo light.box of Alex Bonney (trumpet) and Pierre Alexandre Tremblay (bass), using expansive electronic processing at the intersection of dark ambient, gestural improv and electronic environment, is expanded through the drums and percussion of Norwegian improviser Emil Karlsen, heard in these 2021 recordings at University of Huddersfield, UK.
Other Recommended Releases:
Sanders, Mark / Emil Karlsen
Muted Language
(Bead)
Steering far from pyrotechnics or histrionics, the drum duo of UK legend Mark Sanders and Norwegian residing in the UK and part of the new direction of Bead Records, Emil Karlsen, present six percussion improvisations that focus on textural interaction, melodic progression, polyrhythms, and sonic excitement through percussive elements; an exceptional duo.
Research (Dvorak / Weston / Brown / Serle)
Laws of Motion
(FMR)
The first album from 1982 by drummer Geoff Serle's band Research, combining free improvisation with rock forms, electric and acoustic, or as he described it: "an electro-funk industrial jazz unit", configured as the quartet of trumpeter Jim Dvorak, a member of Mujician & Brotherhood of Breath, bassist Dan Brown from The Fixx, and legendary pianist Veryan Weston.
Spaces Unfolding (Metcalfe / Wachsmann / Karlsen)
The Way We Speak
(Bead)
All three having met in the London Improvisers Orchestra, Neil Metcalfe on flute and violinist Philipp Wachsmann each worked with drummer Emil Karlsen in separate projects including Tern, and then at Karlsen's suggestion creating this new Spaces Unfolding trio, heard in their first album, recording in the natural resonance of St. Mary's Old Church in Stoke Newington.
Tern (Philipp Wachsmann / Martin Hakett / Emil Karlsen)
In Air
(FMR/Bead)
Two sessions from the free improvising electroacoustic trio of Philipp Wachsmann on violin & electronics, Martin Hakett on synthesizer and Emil Karlsen on drums & percussion, first for three studio recordings in 2019, and then in concert at the 2020 "Sounds Like This" festival at Leeds College for two wonderfully idiosyncratic and masterful conversations.
Countryman, Rick / Christian Bucher
Once
(FMR)
From the same 2017 session that was released as the album Estuary, this concert in the Philippines between American expatriate saxophonist Rick Countryman and visiting Swiss drummer Christian Bucher expands on the free playing of these two empathetic improvisers, presenting a mix of textural, conceptual, melodic and rhythmic interplay steeped in their personal histories.
Bourne, Matthew / Emil Karlsen
The Embalmer
(Relative Pitch)
First meetings between British pianist Matthew Bourne and Norwegian drummer Emil Karlsen, two intrepid and like-minded improvisers using unusual techniques, preparations, inside playing and unusual percussive sources that fuel technically superb performances from both musicians, heard in six improvisations informed by masterful skill and creative drive.
Mirror Unit (Georg Wissel / Tim O'Dwyer)
Sonic Rivers
(FMR)
Following their Creative Sources album Wind Makes Weather, alto saxophonists Tim O'Dwyer and Georg Wissel, both employing preparations on their instruments, improvise a confluence of sonic rivers evoking, exploring and reflecting waterways from around the world, captured in concert at the cinema hall of the cultural center Alte Feuerwache, in Cologne.
Hall, Rob / Chick Lyall
Upward Fall
(FMR)
A set of lyrical, thoughtful and sometimes whimsical works from the Scottish-based duo of Rob Hall & Chick Lyall (Green Room Trio), who have been developing their musical language since 2003, drawing from a wide range of genres from Baroque chamber music to free jazz and folk idioms, their lack of boundaries lending itself to a uniquely diverse and embraceable music.
Schindler, Udo / Damon Smith / Jaap Blonk
The Munich Sound Studies Vol 2 & 3
(FMR)
Refined and free ranging improvisation between German reedist Udo Schindler performing on bass clarinet, tenor & sopranino saxophones and also on cornet, and US double bassist Damon Smith, recorded 3 days after the first volume in this series, presenting two sets from the same day of informed and diverse dialogs between two masterful improvisers.
Durrant, Phil / Emil Karlsen
Grain
(Noumenon)
A wonderfully assertive acoustic dialog between London improviser Phil Durrant on mandolin and octave mandolin, and Norwegian percussionist living in Leeds, UK, Emil Karlsen, the two focusing on a quick flow of ideas that ebb and flow naturally, each complementing the other in tightly defined interactions, creating a consistent sound of rapid texture and impetus.
Hanslip, Mark / Emil Karlsen
Planish
(Noumenon)
Saxophonist Mark Hanslip and drummer Emil Karlsen, two active figures on the UK free improv and jazz scene, in a sax & drum duo fueled by live performances, here in their first album of informed and exploratory dialog, five works that run the gamut from textural open playing to fiery free jazz, a solid first endeavor and addition to Karlsen's Noumenon label.
Keune, Stefan / Lovens, Paul
Live 2013
(FMR)
Working together in various ensembles since the early 90s, Stefan Keune on sopranino, alto and baritone saxophone and Paul Lovens on drums and cymbals captured these three extraordinary improvisation in the studio in Brussels, Belgium and live Munich Underground in Germany.
Gjerstad, Frode / John Stevens
Let's Just Keep Going
(FMR)
Norwegian saxophonist Frode Gjerstad recorded this wonderful, spirited meeting with his friend, the late, great drummer and conceptualist John Stevens in 1994.



Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought:
Smith, Wadada Leo
The Emerald Duets [5 CD BOX SET]
(Tum)
Part of his 80th Anniversary celebration and subtitled "The Art Of The Trumpeter And Drummers", this 5-CD box set brings legendary improviser Wadada Leo Smith together with four long-time collaborators and masterful drummers--Andrew Cyrille, Jack DeJohnette, Pheeroan akLaff and Han Bennink--with Smith performing on both piano and trumpet.
Big Bad Brotzmann Trio (feat John Edwards / John Eckhardt)
Hot Ass / Sexy Legs [3'' MINI CD]
(Euphorium)
Two recordings from naTo in Leipzig, Germany, the first an energetic free jazz romp from the Big Bad Brötzmann Trio of Peter Brötzmann on tenor sax & taragato, Oliver Schwerdt on piano & percussion and Christian Lillinger on drums & percussion; then a furtively powerful double bass duo between John Edwards and John Eckhardt, a tour de force of extended technique and deep sound.
Shipp, Matthew
Codebreaker
(Tao Forms)
An unusually contemplative solo record from New York pianist Matthew Shipp, belying the intricately subtle density of his inventive approach to solo piano improvisation, with an innate lyricism through unusual motive and direction; perhaps one of the most succinct and concise albums Shipp has released, and a beautiful reflection of his creative intentions.
Carter, Daniel / Ayumi Ishito / Eric Plaks / Zach Swanson / Jon Panikkar
Open Question Vol. 1
(577 Records)
A wonderfully warm and innately lyrical free jazz quintet that grew organically from weekly jam sessions in Harlem starting in 2019, comprised of tenor saxophonist Ayumi Ishito, pianist Eric Plaks, bassist Zach Swanson, and drummer Jon Panikkar, and later, multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter, Ishito the driving force in the project and this beautiful recording.
Parker, Evan / John Edwards / Tony Marsh
Medway Blues
(FMR)
A superb 2009 concert at Command House, in Chatham, UK from the trio of saxophonist Evan Parker, double bassist John Edwards, and late drummer/percussionist Tony Marsh, a single 36 minute improvisation of cohesive and energetic free jazz where all three pull together as a nearly telepathic unit, plus two extended duo sections between Edwards and Marsh and a Marsh solo.
Schindler / Stemkowoski
Related Unigue Items
(FMR)
Recorded at the 2019 Salon fur Klang+Kunst, in Krailing/Munich, this consummate and creative meeting of multi-reed & brass improviser Udo Schindler and double bassist Thomas Stempkowski was performed as a dedication to bassist Simon H. Fell who passed from cancer in 2020; sadly Stempkowski also died during the production of this album, making this both a farewell and a memorial.
Niblock, Alan
Scratching the Surface
(FMR)
A solo album from Belfast double bassist Alan Niblock, known for his own group Ambient Forces, and his work in a trio with Paul Dunmall and Mark Sanders (Dark Energy), on his own demonstrating a powerfully warm approach to the large strings, augmented and transformed through preparations and objects, improvising in a flowing continuum of rich strategies and concepts.
Schindler, Udo / Etienne Rolin / Luc Laine
In Search Of Surprise
(FMR)
Unique voicing through the orchestration of saxophones, basset horn, glissotar (a modern continuous pitch wind instrument) and vibraphone, heard in this recording at the international artist house Villa Waldberta, in Feldafing-Munich, Germany, for seven recordings that blend free jazz forms with chamber jazz approaches with remarkable sophistication and composure.



The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

© 2002-, Squidco LLC