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Brown, Rob / Brandon Lopez / Juan P. Carletti: Walkabout (Mahakala Music)

An energetic trio session of collective free improvisation from NY alto saxophonist Rob Brown, bassist Brandon Lopez, and drummer Juan Pablo Carletti, recorded in the studio and driven by an intense energy that maintains a powerful swing, with Brown's incisive phrasing, Lopez's commanding bass, and Carletti's dynamic percussion merging into a spontaneous and deeply expressive musical force.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Rob Brown-alto saxophone

Brandon Lopez-bass

Juan Pablo Carletti-drums


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UPC: 195269330217

Label: Mahakala Music
Catalog ID: MAHA-070
Squidco Product Code: 35941

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at Park West Studios, Brooklyn, New York, on April 4th, 2023, by Jim Clouse.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Art isn't a sport. We don't hand out medals for saxophone solos, even though magazines with star ratings have made it their business to try. They've been setting the scene for decades now-unqualified judges handing out scores like it's the Olympics. Don't play that game.

But every so often, you hear someone and think, "Oh. That's *different*."

Rob Brown is one of those people. I'm not going to call him one of the greatest living alto saxophonists-hypocritical as hell, considering what I just said-but I will say this: when Rob plays, it's like a ripple in the room. You could sit through a whole night of saxophonists, but when Rob hits his first note, you'll look up. You'll stop scrolling. You'll wonder: *What's happening here?*

The real mystery is why more people aren't talking about Rob. But then again, it's no mystery at all. Rob's too busy mastering the saxophone to spend time curating his online persona. He speaks through spontaneous group

"Art isn't a sport. We don't hand out medals for saxophone solos, even though magazines with star ratings have made it their business to try. They've been setting the scene for decades now-unqualified judges handing out scores like it's the Olympics. Don't play that game.

But every so often, you hear someone and think, "Oh. That's *different*."

Rob Brown is one of those people. I'm not going to call him one of the greatest living alto saxophonists-hypocritical as hell, considering what I just said-but I will say this: when Rob plays, it's like a ripple in the room. You could sit through a whole night of saxophonists, but when Rob hits his first note, you'll look up. You'll stop scrolling. You'll wonder: What's happening here?

The real mystery is why more people aren't talking about Rob. But then again, it's no mystery at all. Rob's too busy mastering the saxophone to spend time curating his online persona. He speaks through spontaneous group composition, not Facebook or Instagram. And that's what you'll hear on this album.

From the first track, Rob, Brandon Lopez, and Juan Pablo Carletti show us a way to swing you didn't know existed-and it swings harder than most music I've ever heard. Together, they create a new synthetic sentient being.

But I could keep going, and that wouldn't do this justice. Just listen. Listen closely. This trio is saying something. And when you get it, you'll feel it deeply."-Rob Brown

, not Facebook or Instagram. And that's what you'll hear on this album.

From the first track, Rob, Brandon Lopez, and Juan Pablo Carletti show us a way to swing you didn't know existed-and it swings harder than most music I've ever heard. Together, they create a new synthetic sentient being.

But I could keep going, and that wouldn't do this justice. Just listen. Listen closely. This trio is saying something. And when you get it, you'll feel it deeply."-Rob Brown


Artist Biographies

"Rob Brown (born February 27, 1962) is an American free jazz saxophonist and composer.

Rob was born in Hampton, VA. He started playing saxophone at the age of 12 or 13. His first gigs were with a local Virginia and swing band. He eventually studied at Berklee College for two years and worked privately with both Joe Viola and John LaPorta. After a year on the west coast, Brown bounced back to Boston, where he met pianist Matthew Shipp. He moved to NY in 1984 where he enrolled at New York University, earned a music degree, and studied with saxophone masters such as Lee Konitz, but the teacher who had more influence on Rob conceptually was Philadelphian Dennis Sandole. Rob took the train to Philly once a week to study with him for a year and a half.

His first issued recording was the duet with Shipp Sonic Explorations and since then has been actively leading groups or working as a sideman with Shipp, William Parker, Whit Dickey, Joe Morris and Steve Swell.

He is a 2001 CalArts/Alpert/Ucross Residency Prize winner and has received many Meet The Composer Fund grants. In 2006 Rob was awarded a Chamber Music America New Works grant."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Brown_(saxophonist))
4/9/2025

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

"[..] Composer/bassist, Brandon A. Lopez, deemed "The Ubiquitous Free Improv Bass Ace" by the Village Voice and said to play with a "Bruising Physicality" by the Chicago reader.

He was born and raised in the splendors of Northwestern New Jersey, in the shadow of the (New York) city. It was there that he cultivated a taste for the left of center musics and subsequently, dug graves.

He's had the pleasures of working with many of the world's luminary weirdos. Here's a list: Nate Wooley, William Parker, Chris Corsano, Justice Yeldham, Weasel Walter, Peter Evans, Tyshawn Sorey, Gerald Cleaver, Ingrid Laubrock, Tom Rainey, Tony Malaby, Paul Lytton, Mette Rasmussen, Jooklo Duo, Michael Foster, Leila Bordreuil, Jaimie Branch, Joe Morris, Brandon Seabrook, Cactus Truck, John Dykeman, Daniel Carter, and many others.

He's currently leads a trio dubbed "The Mess", another one called the Brandon Lopez Trio, works as a soloist and is formerly/currently/latterly writing more and more music. He may play some it sometime soon (see "gigs").

He attended New England Conservatory."

-Brandon Lopez Website (http://www.brandonlopez.nyc/)
4/9/2025

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

"Juan Pablo Carletti was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He grew up in a musical environment in which his father played percussion, and was instantly drawn to the drums. As he performed with a variety of bands, he focused mainly on improvised music and playing mainstream jazz. He began working with his own projects, and created a small label dedicated to new music. In 2005, Juan traveled to New York City and played with the David Haney Group at Cornelia Street Cafe. This trip was a pivotal turning point in his life, as he met influential musicians such as Mat Maneri, Tony Malaby, Mark Helias, Nasheet Waits and Tom Rainey. One year later, he officially moved to America to continue his musical journey. Juan approaches playing in unique ways, influenced by different styles of music, especially the music created in the avant-garde scene in New York City in the last decades. Using mallets, hands, different sticks and extended techniques on drums, Juan illustrates how drums can be a rhythmic instrument as well as a palette of sounds. His teaching experiences have played a key role in transforming his rhythmic visions. Juan played with Tony Malaby, Andrew Cyrille, Daniel Levin, Mat Maneri, Chris Hoffman, Angelica Sanchez, Kris Davis, Michael Attias ,Rob Brown, Roman Filiu, Roman Diaz, Aruan Ortiz and William Parker. He is part of the Rob Brown Quartet (record to be released) Duo with Daniel Levin, their debut record its on Out Now Records (January 2015)"

-Juan Pablo Carletti Website (https://juanpablocarletti.wordpress.com/home/)
4/9/2025

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


Track Listing:



1. Microcosm 25:28

2. Zephyr 10:45

3. Neural Pathways 11:24

4. Tousled And Jostled 14:10

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Collective & Free Improvsation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Trio Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
New in Improvised Music
Recent Releases and Best Sellers

Search for other titles on the label:
Mahakala Music.


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