VOLUME 1

Ken Vandermark is American self-taught sax player,made his name playing around Chicago scene in 90-s with such artists as Peter Brötzmann,Mats Gustafsson,Paal Nilssen-Love,Joe McPhee,Zu,etc. In late 90-s he founded his own band Vandermark 5 known by performances of his arrangements of works by Sonny Rollins, Joe McPhee, Cecil Taylor.

In early 00' he became more known in Northern Europe playing with domestic punk-jazz and noisy free-jazz improvs musicians.Lean Left is new European project of Vandermark where he collaborates with Norwegian drummer Paal Nilssen-Love and Terrie Hessels and Andy Moor of the Dutch punk rock band The Ex on guitars.Their debut album was recorded live during concert in The Netherlands and released on Smalltown Superjazzz label.

While all musicians are related with Mats Gustafsson you can expect what kind of music you will hear there - yes, it's quite noisy and angular free jazz melted with rock improvs. Interesting,that all music sounds as collaboration of two duos,with free-jazz one (tenor sax of Vandermark and Nilssen-Love's drums)obviously on the front of the action and The Ex' two guitars mostly on back-up sound and noise-making. Not very usual instrumental scheme,isn't it?

Absolutely great part of all four almost fully improvised compositions is interplay between tenor sax and poly-rhythmic high energy drumming. Free jazz by nature,sax sound is angular fast and heavy in best rock traditions. Everyone with love to energetic sax improvs based avant music will enjoy this release in full. Guitarists both are more supporters than equal collaborators though,so the album in fact could be tagged as Vandermark/Nilssen-Love duo release.

Quite well structured for free form improvs music release,this album is quite accessible listening for everyone familiar with high energy jazz/avant improvisational music. Excellent sax player and drummer interplays are really worth your time. My rating is 3,5 rounded to 4.