Chad M Clark solo guitar at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on January 25, 2025

A few weeks back I was able to catch a triple header of improvised and experimental music at Milwaukee's venerable Jazz Gallery. The final performance for that evening was guitarist Chad M Clark improvising on guitar in front of a video projection by Chicago avantgarde vocalist Carol Genetti. 

The 22-minute set was inventive and highly textured. It went by too quickly -- I'm looking forward to catching him later in the month at Woodland Pattern with keyboardist James Baker.

Chad's website bio does an excellent job of summarizing his approach to music and his career so far:

Chad M. Clark (b. 1973) is a Chicago-based guitarist. Immersed in the instrument’s physical properties, his palette is a measure of size, encompassing both finite and infinite magnitudes.

From the narrow rasps of strings stretched taut to the creaking breath of the wood itself, the ways in which particular vibrational phenomena contour the subjective experience of time and space permeates Clark’s practice.

He has performed with many improvising musicians, including Tim Daisy, Weasel Walter, Mark Feldman, Bill Harris, Damon Smith, Jim Baker, Viv Corringham, Norman Long, Carol Genetti, Jack Wright, and Keefe Jackson. His latest record with drummer and guitarist Weasel Walter, Sublimation Incantation, came out on February 15th 2024.

Buy his most recent CD here.

Recording information:

CHAD M CLARK
2025-01-25 

Milwaukee, WI 

Jazz Gallery 

Chad M Clark: guitar 

Setlist: 

01 Untitled Improvisation (22:04) 

Total time = 22:04 

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF 

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96 

Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (106 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (53 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Sebastian Strinning at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on October 11, 2024

Thirty-nine year old Sebastian Strinning is a saxophonist with roots in Switzerland and Sweden. He also has connections to Chicago, however, having been awarded a residency in the Windy City in 2017. Last year he further cemented his Chicago ties with a duo album with percussionist Tim Daisy.

In October he came to Milwaukee twice with different ensembles. For this first Cream City show, the band featured fellow saxophonist Keefe Jackson, bassist Jason Roebke, and drummer Julian Kirshner. There was quite a bit of spirited improvisation on offer over the 46-minute set.

Buy his most recent album here.

Recording information:

SEBASTIAN STRINNING

2024-10-11

Milwaukee at the Sugar Maple

Sebastian Strinning: reeds

Keefe Jackson: reeds

Jason Roebke: bass

Julian Kirshner: drums

Setlist

01 First Improvisation (24:02)

02 Second Improvisation (12:13)

03 Third Improvisation (10:41)

Total time = 46:56

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (280 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (179 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Sunburned Hand of the Man at the Milwaukee Psych Fest on April 13, 2019

Sunburned Hand of the Man is a large collective of improvising musicians formed about 30 years ago in Boston. They have released a staggering 200 albums, most of which are available on their Bandcamp website. The band frequently incorporates friends and guest musicians, so that the list of past members of the band is preposterously long.

    

Given the breadth of their catalog, it is pretty much impossible to properly categorize their music, which I think is wonderful. On this day in April at the Psych Fest, they performed an evocative 37-minute piece which was apparently largely improvised and featured lyrics centered around the topic of Death.

The 2019 Milwaukee Psych Fest was the first I taped in an open manner. At that point I was running back and forth between the indoor stage and outdoor set (where this set happened). I missed a lot that way, and for later Psych Fests I utilized two setups so as not to miss anything.

Check out their massive and wonderful catalog here.

Recording information:

SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN
2019-04-13
The Cooperage
Milwaukee Psych Fest

Setlist:
01 Untitled (37:11)

Total time = 37:11

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF on stand
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6 at 24/96
Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (152 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (103 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Kikagaku Moyo and Angel Bat David at the Empty Bottle in Chicago on November 20, 2021

After Kikagaku Moyo finished their headlining set on the second night of a two night residency at the Empty Bottle in Chicago back in November 2021, they had a surprise for the audience: a 30-minute jam session with opener Angel Bat David.

The combination of Japanese psychedelic rock and Chicago free jazz was a delight, exploring riffs and textures without overextending themselves or degenerating into aimless noodling. Angel kept them moving throughout with her ecstatic chanting and clarinet playing.

Recording information:

KIKAGAKU MOYO
ANGEL BAT DAWID
2021-11-20
Chicago, IL
The Empty Bottle

Go Kurosawa: drums
Tomo Katsurada: guitar
Kotsu Guy: bass
Daoud Popal: guitar
Ryu Kurosawa: sitar
Angel Bat Dawid: voice and clarinet

Xristian Espinoza: sax

Setlist:
01 Chicago jam (30:32)

Total tine = 30:32

This is a matrix recording
Source 1: Beyerdynamic MC 930 stereo pair (ORTF)
Source 2: mono soundboard feed from Eric Lemke
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre 6 at 24/48
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

Tremendous thanks to sound engineer Eric Lemke for going far out of his way to be of assistance in capturing this live recording, and to the band for allowing live recording of their performances.

https://kikagakumoyo.com
https://kikagakumoyoggb.bandcamp.com

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (186 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (88 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Wooden Wand (James Toth) at Acme Records in Milwaukee on October 10, 2024

James Jackson Toth is a busy person. A member of One Eleven Heavy and James and the Giants as well as the person behind the moniker Wooden Wand, he has also found the time to write about music for NPR, Stereogum, The Wire, Aquarium Drunkard, The Quietus, and others.

His music ranges from avant garde experimentation to dreamy "New Weird America" gothic Americana. A recent collection of cover versions of his songs shows the breadth of the people who admire his songs, with contributions from Meg Baird, Ryley Walker, William Tyler, Marisa Anderson and Zachary Cale as well as Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore.

   

    

    

This evening he was alone on stage at Acme Records for a short set with just an acoustic guitar, opening for Universal Light. It was a delight and I can only hope he will return to Milwaukee soon for a longer exploration of his body of work.

Buy his most recent album here.

Recording information:

   

WOODEN WAND

2024-10-10

Milwaukee, WI

Acme Records

James Toth: guitar and voice

Setlist:

01 The Mountain (4:39)

02 Sacrificial (3:51)

03 Collateral Damage (4:09)

04 Spitting at the Cameras (3:16)

05 Days This Long (2:31)

06 Oasis vs Blur (4:34)

07 Outsider Blues (5:08)

Total time = 28:08

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF at stage lip

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (164 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (158 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Gwenifer Raymond at the Phoenix in Exeter, England on September 2, 2022

I ran into Andrew Scott Young and Ryan Jewell in the street outside the Hare and Hounds in the King's Heath suburb of Birmingham, England on the last day of August, 2022. They were coming back from eating before the Ryley Walker show where they would provide the brilliant rhythm section. I greeted them cheerfully, and I think they may have been surprised at my American accent.

"Hey!" Ryan exclaimed and pointed at my Chris Forsyth t-shirt. "I played on that album!" I nodded and told him I wore it especially because he would be performing. With them, very quiet, was a young woman I would later find out was Gwenifer Raymond -- a Welsh acoustic guitarist who was opening for Ryley on that segment of his UK tour. I don't think I said hello to her, probably because half my brain was thinking about all the challenges I would have recording later that night.

When she did appear on stage that evening, barefoot, looking defiant yet confidently amused, I wasn't prepared for her powerful performance. There were elements of fingerstyle and blues, British folk and something else mixed in as well. Someone I met after the show said she had been a force of nature. I still feel that is an excellent description of what it is like to see her perform.

I'll be sharing my recording from that night soon, but first I wanted to share this performance from a few days later, in the very lovely town of Exeter at the Phoenix arts and performance center. For this performance I was able to obtain a mono soundboard feed to mix in with my trusty and compact Line Audio CM3 microphones. I knew what I was in for, and was happy to see that she had a 45-minute opening slot compared to the half-hour slot she was given in Birmingham.

Buy her most recent album here.

Recording information:

GWENIFER RAYMOND
2022-09-02
Exeter, England at the Phoenix

Gwenifer Raymond: guitar

Setlist:
01 The Three Deaths of Red Spectre (8:36)
02 Deep Sea Diver - Sometimes There's Blood (7:45)
03 Worn Out Blues (5:58)
04 Marseilles Bunkhouse, 3am (7:34)
05 Gwaed am Gwaed (5:23)
06 Ruben's Song (4:52)
07 Hell For Certain (6:54)

Total time = 47:02

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF configuration
Additional source: mono SBD feed
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

https://gweniferraymond.com/
https://exeterphoenix.org.uk/

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (293 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (116 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Jeff Parker solo at Cactus Club in Milwaukee on December 4, 2021

A few months back we shared Jeff Parker's performance in Chicago from December 2021 at Thalia Hall -- now we present his performance a few days later at the Cactus Club. At the time he was on a national tour with Steve Gunn.

I was fortunate to be present in Chicago in the mid-1990s when Jeff began to appear live in venues such as the Velvet Lounge and Lunar Cabaret. From the very beginning I was impressed with his guitar tone and tasteful solos. This show was a rare opportunity for folks to hear Jeff in a solo context.

Much thanks to my fellow taper Randy Bayers for his assistance with tracking and identifying the setlist.

Buy Jeff's most recent album here.

Recording information:

Jeff Parker
2021-12-04
Milwaukee, WI at the Cactus Club

Setlist:
01 Excess Success >
02 My Ideal [Richard Whiting, Newell Chase & Leo Robin]
03 banter
04 After The Rain [John Coltrane] >
05 La Jetée > Drone

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 stereo pair in ORTF configuration on 9 foot stand
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6
Software: Audacity and xAct

Tracking: Randy Bayers

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (279 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (153 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Jake Acosta at Judson and Moore in Chicago on July 28, 2023

Recently, Ryley Walker declared on Twitter that Jake Acosta was his favorite guitarist. This high praise from a very talented musician reminded me that I had recorded Jake opening up for Ryley and Bill MacKay at their reunion show on July 28, 2023 at the Judson and Moore Distillery in Chicago. At the time, Jake seemed self-deprecating and reluctant to allow me to share his performance. Fortunately, after I contacted him again he gave me the go-ahead to post this.

Jake is originally from Kansas but moved to Chicago more than a decade ago, where he was a member of several bands including ADT and Famous Laughs and ran labels such as Teen River and Lake Paradise.

This performance is comprised of two medleys featuring a dozen or so instrumental and vocal songs. I thought the entire experience was mesmerizing and am so happy Jake has allowed me to share it with you.

Buy his most recent album here.

Recording information:

JAKE ACOSTA
2023-07-28
Chicago, IL
Judson and Moore Distillery

Jake Acosta: guitar and voice

Setlist:

01 Fate Jar ->
Back from a Painting ->
Guitar Interlude 1 ->
Distance Goes A Long Way ->
Sleeping in the 80s ->
Guitar Interlude 2 ->
Radical Charm ->
Sad By Design (18:57)

02 Speed Dreaming ->
Shiny Semblance ->
Omen (10:22)

Total Time = 29:19

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in NOS
Additional source: mono SBD feed
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (137 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (80 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Tim Berne, Hank Roberts, and Aurora Nealand at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on October 22, 2023

Last October Tim Berne performed at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee as part of a tour with cellist Hank Roberts and accordion player Aurora Nealand.

    

   

Berne is a well-known saxophonist primarily known for his avant-garde jazz work. Born in 1954 in Syracuse, NY, Berne developed an early interest in music, studying classical piano before gravitating toward the saxophone as a teenager. He later moved to Boston, where he attended the New England Conservatory of Music. In the 1980s, Berne emerged as an important figure in New York City's downtown scene, playing alongside many influential musicians such as Billy Hart, David Torn, and Bill Frisell. He has led numerous ensembles, including Tim Berne’s Bloodcount, Snakeoil, and the Big Satan Trio.

  

Roberts' work spans multiple genres, including jazz, classical, and experimental music. His first significant recordings as a leader began in the 1980s, including the album Black Pastels. 

    

Nealand is best known for her work as a clarinetist, saxophonist, and vocalist, blending various genres including jazz, New Orleans music, and experimental improvisation in such bands as the Royal Roses, which draws on early jazz and swing influences, as well as The Monocle -- a group with a more exploratory edge.

    

Buy their album here.

Recording information:

TIM BERNE


HANK ROBERTS


AURORA NEALAND

2023-10-22

Milwaukee at the Sugar Maple

Tim Berne: sax

Hank Roberts: cello

Aurora Nealand: accordion

Setlist:

01 First piece (23:33)

02 Second Piece (20:18)

03 Third Piece (12:23)

Total time = 56:14

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF

Recorder: MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (284 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (137 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

Universal Light at Acme Records in Milwaukee on October 10, 2024

Universal Light is a trio composed of guitarist Jesse Sheppard (of Elkhorn fame), violinist Mike Gangloff (Pelt, Black Twig Pickers) and cellist Kaily Schenker (Solar Hex). Like so much of the great music I have seen at Acme, it's difficult to pin down a category for this music. It is too mesmerizing and monumental for bluegrass, too experimental to be folk music. There are times it sounds like modern classical. The virtuosity shines through, however, at every moment.

  

  

It was an incredible experience to listen to that night, and I hope you will take a chance and download it to experience it for yourself.

Buy their limited-edition album here.

Recording information:

UNIVERSAL LIGHT

2024-10-10

Milwaukee, WI

Acme Records and Music Emporium

Jesse Sheppard: guitar

Mike Gangloff: violin

Kailey Schenker: cello, harmonium, voice

Setlist:

01 Autumn For Now -> Triode -> April Is Passing -> Freedom -> Universal Blues (26:27)

02 The Squirrel Is A Pretty Thing (8:40)

03 Lullaby -> Summer Field (9:57)

Total time = 45:04

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 pair in ORTF

Additional source: mono soundboard (vocals)

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

Recorded with explicit artist permission by Richard Hayes

downloads:

16bit, 44.kHz FLAC files (232 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that

320 kbps mp3 files (122 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible