Rempis/Abrams/Ra + Baker

ABOUT

This working quartet is a perfect example of what makes Chicago such a fertile breeding ground for improvised music; four musicians of widely varying ages, backgrounds, playing experiences, and musical interests join forces to deliver moments of both sublime beauty and volcanic energy, continually tempered by the seamless narrative momentum that they weave together in a seemingly effortless way.  Convened in the fall of 2012, the band keeps up a regular concert schedule in Chicago and abroad, and their group dynamic reveals the type of incredibly seasoned chemistry that only such regular performances could allow. They’ve also performed nationally and internationally at festivals in North America and Europe including Kerava Jazz Festival, Suoni Per Il Popolo, Edgefest, Wels Music Unlimited, and The Chicago Jazz Festival mainstage. The group has three records available through Aerophonic Records including “Aphelion” (2014), “Perihelion,” (2016), and “Apsis” (2019). They’re currently working on a post-pandemic release to come out in 2022.

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PRESS

Aphelion…has elements of jazz and world music, blending sounds that could be from Asia, North Africa, or some polyglot Chicago neighborhood bar. It's meditative at times, throbbing and visceral at others.  This is a fascinating, multifaceted record that'll hit you with one unexpected moment after another, all of them enjoyable.  -Phil Freeman, Burning Ambulance

When a freely improvised group prominently features saxophonist Dave Rempis, its music tends to be fiery and bulldozer intense. He's furiously propulsive, usually locking in with a drummer (or with two in the Rempis Percussion Quartet) and riding even the swiftest rhythms like an unsinkable raft on tumbling rapids. But in this relatively new trio with bassist Joshua Abrams and percussionist Avreeayl Ra, he shows off a surprisingly gentle side…this limber outfit is the most organically ebbing-and-flowing band I've ever heard him lead.  -Peter Margasak, Chicago Reader

This band is rooted in spiritual communication and demonstrates much openness in its approach, making this a very warm and inviting as well as challenging work.  -Tom Burris, The Free Jazz Blog

The synergy between their approaches exerts a hypnotic lure, but keeps listeners on their toes by opening up the possibilities at every turn rather than bearing down on a consensus approach. This is an enormously satisfying record, but it also implies potentialities that make this a band worth watching in years to come. -Bill Meyer, Dusted Magazine

The potential for this new trio is infinite. Hopefully, there will be more where this came from…
-Mark Corroto, AllAboutJazz