Janel Leppin, Ensemble Volcanic Ash, Cuneiform ***

Experimental cellist Janel Leppin locates all the backing that she needs in the arrangement of 'Woven Forest - She Had Synesthesia' new as promo in its edit version from Ensemble Volcanic Ash on their self-titled album. A free-ish inclined septet …

Published: 3 Jul 2022. Updated: 21 months.

Experimental cellist Janel Leppin locates all the backing that she needs in the arrangement of 'Woven Forest - She Had Synesthesia' new as promo in its edit version from Ensemble Volcanic Ash on their self-titled album. A free-ish inclined septet based in Washington DC, the sound here is shaped around the very confident double bass of Luke Stewart, one of marlbank's favourite avant players. After about 5 minutes the piece completely changes into more of a chugging avant rock scrum in the midst of which guitarist Anthony Pirog (Leppin's husband) wigs out highly enjoyably and shreds away before the saxes take up the slack. Ensemble Volcanic Ash is released on 29 July.

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History-making Free At Last drummer Clarence Becton has died at the age of 88

Clarence Becton who made jazz history as the drummer on Mal Waldron trio recording Free at Last died on 24 June in Amsterdam where he had been living since 1981. He was 88. His death in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis hospital was reported yesterday …

Published: 2 Jul 2022. Updated: 20 months.

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Clarence Becton who made jazz history as the drummer on Mal Waldron trio recording Free at Last died on 24 June in Amsterdam where he had been living since 1981. He was 88. His death in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis hospital was reported yesterday by the Dutch Jazzenzo jazz magazine. There are no details of cause of death.

The Mississippi-born musician and educator was on the first ever ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) album issued at the end of 1969 and numbered ''1001''. Before moving to Munich in 1969 in the US he had worked with among others saxophonist Don Menza and Becton is highly impressive keeping time and providing a rugged feel on 1964's epic sounding 'Spanish Boots'. He had also toured widely with singer Jon Hendricks before moving to Munich, the city - then and now - the label's home.

In Germany Becton worked with among other leaders the Billie Holiday pianist Waldron who was composer of such beloved standards to John Coltrane fans as 'Soul Eyes' interpreted so wondrously in recent years by Kandace Springs. In the 1970s the drummer went on to play on an Impulse recording by violinist Michael White, Father Music, Mother Dance. Later work in the 1980s included the Burton Greene Quartet's One Love Music. Waldron died in 2002. Free at Last's third member double bassist Isla Eckinger passed away last year.