| Brian Haas & Matt Chamberlain — Frames (2013) |
Brian Haas & Matt Chamberlain — Frames
Location: Los Angeles, California
Matt born: April 17, 1967 in San Pedro, California, U.S.
Brian born: 1974 in Santa Fe, NM, lived in Broken Arrow & Tulsa, OK
Genre: Jazz, Pop/Rock
Styles: Post-Rock, Modern Creative, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Instrumental
Album release: October 15, 2013
Record Label: The Royal Potato Family
Duration: 31:13
Tracks:
01 Birth 4:24
02 Open Windows 2:30
03 Death: An Introduction 3:29
04 Prism 2:52
05 Of Many, One 1:54
06 Niche 2:47
07 Drive 2:15
08 Death: An Observation 3:37
09 Closing Window 1:56
10 An Empty House 3:00
11 From Nothing, Infinite 2:29
Credits:
★ Dale Becker Mastering
★ Matt Chamberlain Drums, Percussion
★ Jeremy Charles Photography
★ Chris Combs Additional Production, Synthesizer
★ Chad Copelin Mixing
★ Matthew Edwards Video
★ Brian Haas Composer, Piano
★ Nathan Price Artwork, Engineer
★ Costa Stasinopoulos Engineer, Producer, Programming, Synthesizer
★ Peter Tomshany Guitar
Album Moods: Ambitious Cerebral Freewheeling Hypnotic Improvisatory Reflective Rollicking Sophisticated
Themes: Birth Death Lifecycle Passion Reflection The Creative Side Wisdom
Review by Matt Collar; Score: ★★★★
★ Frames is the 2013 debut album from the instrumental duo of pianist Brian Haas and drummer Matt Chamberlain, both artists who have extensive credits to their names across a variety of genres from rock to jazz and beyond. Haas, who previously released two well-received solo albums, is best known as a co-founding member of the experimental Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. For his part, Chamberlain got his start playing with Edie Brickell and Pearl Jam — leaving before the release of Ten — and even spent time as a member of the Saturday Night Live Band before embarking on a creatively fertile career performing with jazz artists like Brad Mehldau and Bill Frisell, as well as recording his own albums. Frames finds the duo collaborating on a handful of Haas' compositions that straddle the line between instrumental jazz, avant-garde classical music, and experimental post-rock. Haas and Chamberlain are also joined here by guitarist Peter Tomshany, keyboardist/programmer Costa Stasinopoulos, and keyboardist Chris Combs, all of whom lend various atmospheric layers to Haas' songs throughout the album. Haas has a deft, technically proficient style on the piano and his circular, often hypnotic songs (which were composed as a suite) sometimes explore a ruminative rock sound. They seem like they could easily accommodate vocals and lyrics, but the fact that they don't feels purposeful, designed to instead accommodate copious amounts of exploratory, atmospheric soundscapes and improvisation. The alchemy brings to mind many influences, from Chopin to Keith Jarrett, from James P. Johnson to Philip Glass and Steve Reich. It also fits nicely, if uniquely, alongside similar works by more contemporary artists including the Bad Plus, the Dirty Three, and Jason Moran. While the way these disparate sounds come together makes Haas and Chamberlain's music difficult to categorize, it also makes it a unique pleasure to witness.
© Photo credit: Super Dee
BRIAN HAAS
Artist Biography by Matt Collar
★ A progressive-leaning pianist who straddles the line between jazz, experimental, classical music, and rock, Brian Haas is best known for founding the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey. Born in Tulsa in 1974, Haas was a gifted pianist in his youth who earned a full scholarship to the University of Tulsa for classical music. While at Tulsa, he became interested in jazz, eventually switching to full-time jazz study. In 1994, along with several fellow University of Tulsa jazz students, Haas formed the innovative ensemble Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, with which he toured and recorded for several years. In 2005, Haas released his debut solo album, The Truth About Hollywood on Rykodisc/Hyena Records. Around the same time, Haas formed the band the Dead Kenny G's with saxophonist Skerik and percussionist Mike Dillon. Haas then returned to solo work with his 2009 sophomore album, Petting Sounds. When not performing with Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Haas continues to collaborate with array of artists from across the musical spectrum. In 2013, Haas paired with drummer Matt Chamberlain for the album Frames.
Brian Hass website: http://brianroyhaas.com/
MySpace: https://myspace.com/brianhaas
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianroyhaas
Press:
Agent:
Live Music Blog: http://livemusicblog.com/2013/10/12/recap-brian-haas-snug-harbor-new-orleans-la-10713/
MATT CHAMBERLAIN
★ Matt Chamberlain began playing drums at the age of 10.
★ He received his first set of drums at age 15, and studied with David Garibaldi, Murray Spivack, Chuck Flores, and Greg Bissonette before being awarded a scholarship to study at North Texas State University three years later. He started playing professionally in the Dallas, Texas Deep Ellum scene in the mid 80's.
★ His first notable work was with Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, with whom he toured and recorded from 1988 until 1991. In 1991 he briefly joined the band Pearl Jam and toured with them before the release of their début album Ten. He can be seen in the band's first video, "Alive". After a season in the house band for Saturday Night Live, he moved to Seattle to start the out groove band Critters Buggin which is currently active. He has worked on combining live and looped drums, often creating loops on the fly and then playing along to them. Tori Amos has introduced Chamberlain as "the human loop" at her concerts.
★ Chamberlain has contributed his drumming to the tours and albums of Tori Amos, Morrissey, Fiona Apple, Critters Buggin, Dido, Sean Lennon, The Master Musicians of Jajouka, Robert Fripp, Sara Bareilles, Jon Brion, David Torn, Indigo Girls, Weapon of Choice, Macy Gray, Stone Gossard,Christian McBride, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, Tim and Neil Finn, David Bowie, Elton John, Peter Gabriel, The Wallflowers, Natalie Merchant, Bill Frisell, the Saturday Night Live Band, Robbie Williams, Kanye West, Garbage, Anika Moa, Shakira, John Mayer, Brad Mehldau, Liz Phair, Chris Isaak, Dave Navarro, Kevin Max, Sam Phillips and William Shatner. In 2005 he released a self-titled solo album on Web Of Mimicry Records that he describes as "an imaginary soundtrack to an Asian-Western-Sci-Fi-Horror Movie".
★ Matt also currently plays in a burning power trio called Thruster! with guitarist Tim Young (of The Youngs and Zony Mash) and bassist Kaveh Rastegar (of Kneebody). ★ They have released albums on the Kufala label. In August 2007, Chamberlain with musician Bill Frisell released the debut project Floratone.
★ Matt currently endorses Craviotto Drums, DW Hardware, Istanbul Agop Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Taos Drums, and Remo Drumheads.
Drummerworld: http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Matt_Chamberlain.html
Website: http://www.mattchamberlain.com/
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
| Brian Haas & Matt Chamberlain — Frames (2013) |