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(pedrosimoes7/flickr)Cutting Edge Jazz: Eurotrash or Eurosmash?
Jazz may be America's quintessential music but you have to go to European countries like the Netherlands, Poland or Sweden to find the more cutting-edge sounds. Today, a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on who’s got the more vibrant jazz scene: Europe or the U.S. Also: one example of vanguard jazz on American shores is Fieldwork, a group comprised of three rising young players: pianist Vijay Iyer, saxophonist Steve Lehman and drummer Tyshawn Sorey.
Soundcheck Smackdown: European versus American jazz
Some say the vanguard of jazz, America's quintessential music, is now coming out of Europe. Today, a Soundcheck Smackdown debate on whether European jazz is threatening the dominance of the US as the cradle of the art form. Joining us is Will Layman, a jazz critic who writes for Popmatters.com, NPR and other publications and Peter Margasak, a staff writer for the weekly Chicago Reader and the author of "The European Scene" column for DownBeat magazine.
Fieldwork Live
Fieldwork, a trio consisting of saxophonist Steve Lehman, pianist Vijay Iyer, and drummer Tyshawn Sorey, create exploratory jazz that mixes African, South Asian and electronica styles. The group's cumulative resume includes stints with some of the great avant-jazz pioneers, such as Steve Coleman, Roscoe Mitchell, Anthony Braxton, and others. They join us to share their new album, "Door."
Fieldwork will perform at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette St.) Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
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