Sax On The Tube: Chris Potter

Monday, January 12, 2015

Chris Potter Presents His New ECM Album "Chris Potter Underground Orchestra - Imaginary Cities"

Chris Potter Underground Orchestra

Imaginary Cities

ECM Records 2387

Release: January 16 2015

"Imaginary Cities" is the recording premiere of saxophonist Chris Potter’s new Underground Orchestra. At the core of this larger ensemble is the personnel of his long-established Underground quartet – with Adam Rogers, Craig Taborn and Nate Smith – now joined by two bassists, a string quartet, and Potter’s old comrade from Dave Holland Quintet days, vibes and marimba man Steve Nelson. The title composition is a suite, panoramic in its reach, with movements subtitled “Compassion”, “Dualities”, “Disintegration” and “Rebuilding”. The scope of the work, and its contrasting moods and thematic development, inspire some of Potter’s finest playing. His saxes fly high above his idealized cityscapes or launch into dialogues or group improvising with its gifted inhabitants. Four further pieces – “Lament”, “Firefly”, “Sky” and “Shadow Self” – extend the feeling of the suite, successfully combining both tightly written material and very open areas involving all members of the orchestra. References are multi-idiomatic and multicultural, and Potter, who counts "Charlie Parker with Strings" amongst his formative enthusiasms, had Arabic and Indian string sections in mind, as well as contemporary composition, when shaping this material. "Imaginary Cities" was recorded in December 2013 in New York’s Avatar Studio and produced by Manfred Eicher. Release of the album is followed by US performances with the Underground Orchestra in New York and San Francisco.

Chris Potter: tenor and soprano saxophones, bass clarinet

Adam Rogers: guitars

Craig Taborn: piano

Steve Nelson: vibraphone, marimba

Fima Ephron: bass guitar

Scott Colley: double bass

Nate Smith: drums

Mark Feldman: violin

Joyce Hammann: violin

Lois Martin: viola

Dave Eggar: cello

Monday, March 31, 2014

Chris Potter Live in Ljubljana at TV Slovenia on November 2004 (Full Concert + Interview)

This is a playlist of eleven videos

Click "Fast Farward" button in the player to move to next clip

Chris Potter - Tenor Saxophone
Kevin Hays - Piano
Scott Colley - Bass
Bill Stewart - Drums

1) Nuvo
2) Law Years
3) Invisible Man
4) The Wheel
5) Giant Steps
6) Okinawa
7) Slowish
8) 7.5
9) Just As I Am
10) Interview Part.1
11) Interview Part.2