OPTION Talks

Season 3 Episode 17: Ballake Sissoko & Nicole Mitchell

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this September 2017 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Ballake Sissoko & Nicole Mitchell discuss early experiences with music, improvising across musical traditions, and working in different languages.

Note that Ballake Sissoko works with a French translator throughout the conversation.

Season 3 Episode 15: Lou Mallozzi

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this June 2017 conversation with Seth Kim-Cohen, Lou Mallozzi improvises his way through an intertwined performance and interview.

“The improvisation was not only the music or sonic performance, but also the improvisation of the discussion with Seth, the improvisation of getting questions from the audience, and the possible failures or unintentional occurrences of the cell phone, the outdoors, etc. Added to this is the fact that the progression of these elements and their ways of interrupting each other were also improvised. In other words, it was an improvisation of the whole situation and not only an improvised music concert framed with the place, social situation and a series. In fact, it wasn't a concert, or if it was, the concert was couched within the overall event.”

- Lou Mallozzi on his 2017 solo Option Concert.

Season 3 Episode 13: Jessica Ackerley

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this September 2021 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Jessica Ackerley talks about playing clean electric guitar, the role of enjoyment in playing music, and collaborating with Shane Parish in Hawai'i.

Season 3 Episode 11: Magda Mayas

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this August 2020 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Magda Mayas talks about her early musical influences from her family and seeing Cecil Taylor, shares her experience being a student of Misha Mengelberg, and discusses her techniques working with a prepared piano.

Season 3 Episode 9: Mabel Kwan

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this May 2019 conversation with Tim Daisy, Mabel Kwan talks about her early musical life, playing with Ensemble Dal Niente, and the thin line between interpretation and creation.

Season 3 Episode 7: Terrie Ex & Andy Moor

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this October 2015 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Terrie Ex and Andy Moor discuss the several social, political and creative scenes in Amsterdam that shaped them, the longevity of The EX, and shines light on the bureaucracy of international artists to be in the United States to share their music.

Season 3 Episode 5: Jim O’Rourke

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this March 2021 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Jim O'Rourke talks about 1980s and '90s Chicago music, the impact of studying on creativity, and his move to Japan. This episode features a playlist assembled by Jim.

Season 3 Episode 3: Karen Ng

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this November 2021 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Karen Ng talks about her technical exploration as a saxophonist, her ups and downs of her musical education, and they both discuss the similarities and differences of the Chicago v. Toronto scenes.

Season 3 Episode 1: Greg Kelley

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this October 2018 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Greg Kelley talks about developing a palette of sounds for the trumpet, the importance of context and narrative to an improvised set, and seeing how much “music” can be taken out of music.

Season 2 Episode 19: Gerry Hemingway

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this October 2018 conversation with Tim Daisy, Gerry Hemingway discusses the under documented New Haven sound scene, the active differences between listening and hearing, and touches on his background as a videographer.

Season 2 Episode 17: Christof Kurzmann

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this 2016 duo performance and conversation with Ken Vandermark, Christof Kurzmann discusses making music about the second Iraq war, using the laptop in improvised music, and working as a concert organizer.

Season 2 Episode 15: Ingebrigt Håker Flaten

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this April 2017 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten talks about his upbringing and schooling before becoming a musician, discusses the techniques and practices that inspire him, and his personal relationships with different cultures between Norway, Chicago and Austin.

Season 2 Episode 13: Ingrid Laubrock

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this March 2018 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, Ingrid Laubrock discusses the role of the room in solo playing, working on an orchestral scale, and moving to New York from London.

Season 2 Episode 11: Fred Lonberg-Holm

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this March 2016 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Fred Lonberg-Holm looks back to his origins of how he came to build his signature cello sound, being called the “anti-cellist”, and discusses his thoughts between art as a job and art as a hobby.

Season 2 Episode 9: Michael Vatcher

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0600

In this October 2017 conversation with Tim Daisy, Michael Vatcher reflects on the narrative elements of solo performance, moving to Amsterdam in the 1980s, and playing chess with Anthony Braxton and Misha Mengelberg.

Note: this episode includes a discussion of suicide.

Season 2 Episode 7: William Parker

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this September 2016 conversation with Ken Vandermark, William Parker looks back at the beginning and formation of The New York Loft Scene, his musical journey from the 70s, 80s, 90s into the new millenium, and gives advice on proper technique vs. individuality.

Season 2 Episode 5: LaDonna Smith

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this October 2018 conversation with Andrew Clinkman, LaDonna Smith talks about experimentation as a way of carrying childhood forward, fostering a creative music community in Birmingham, Alabama, and sustaining the Trans Museq Records from 1976 to the present.

Season 2 Episode 3: Luke Stewart

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this August 2018 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Luke Stewart talks about his bass and amplifier exploration, becoming a key musical organizer in D.C and his views on social justice and artistic sustainability within our collective arts communities.

Season 2 Episode 1: Helen Gillet

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this July 2017 conversation with Tim Daisy, Helen Gillet talks about taking inspiration from languages, bridging classical, Indian, and jazz cello technique, and living in the New Orleans Musicians' Village.

Episode 23: William Winant

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Fri, 01 Oct 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this August 2019 conversation with Tim Daisy, William Winant talks about the similarities between improvised and composed music, crossing musical genres, and interpreting pieces by James Tenney and Roscoe Mitchell.

Episode 21: Wendy Eisenberg

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this June 2019 conversation with Tim Daisy, Wendy Eisenberg talks about living and working in Western Massachusetts, reconciling playing and singing, and the negative aspects of striving for virtuosity.

Episode 19: Myra Melford

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this September 2019 conversation with Tim Daisy, Myra Melford talks about taking inspiration from visual art, studying with legendary Chicago pianist Erwin Helfer, and working with improvisation conductor Butch Morris.

Episode 17: Chad Taylor

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this March 2017 interview with Tim Daisy, Chad Taylor talks about practice and performance, transitioning from classical guitar to drums, and his one lesson with mbira master Garikayi Tirikoti.

Episode 15: Tashi Dorji

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this July 2020 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Tashi Dorji talks about moving from Bhutan to the United States, the similarities between punk rock and free improvisation, and his love for Bollywood and traditional monastic music.

This interview was originally broadcast on Experimental Sound Studio's The Quarantine Concerts.

Episode 13: Sylvie Courvoisier

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this November 2015 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Sylvie Courvoisier discusses moving to New York from Switzerland in the late 1990s, the tradeoffs involved in working as a touring musician, and the challenge of finding decent pianos on tour.

Episode 11: Kris Davis

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this March 2018 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Kris Davis talks about finding resources for improvisation in the classical tradition, learning by doing "$50 jazz gigs" in New York, and leaving space for other musicians.

This episode is sponsored by Astral Spirits Records (astralspirits.bandcamp.com): “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz since September 2014.”

Episode 9: Nate Wooley

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this August 2015 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Nate Wooley discusses growing up playing in a big band on the Oregon coast, developing a musical language within technical limitations, aesthetic differences between Chicago and New York music communities, and the challenges of interpreting music by Wynton Marsalis, Anthony Braxton, and Éliane Radigue.

This episode is sponsored by Astral Spirits Records (astralspirits.bandcamp.com): “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz since September 2014.”

Episode 7: Ikue Mori

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this July 2017 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Ikue Mori discusses the gender divide in the New York music scene of the 1970s, her gradual shift from drum set to drum machines to laptop, and her recent work with video.

This episode is sponsored by Astral Spirits Records (astralspirits.bandcamp.com): “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz since September 2014.”

Episode 5: Susan Alcorn

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 27 May 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this July 2018 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Susan Alcorn discusses the unique qualities of the pedal steel guitar, the connections between country and experimental music, and her work with Astor Piazzolla and Pauline Oliveros. This episode is sponsored by Astral Spirits Records (astralspirits.bandcamp.com): “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz since September 2014.”

Episode 3: Joe McPhee

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Thu, 13 May 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this November 2015 conversation with Ken Vandermark, Joe McPhee discusses his experiences with John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and Don Cherry, finding Clifford Thornton’s trombone in a used music store, and the connections between poetry and music. This episode is sponsored by Astral Spirits Records (astralspirits.bandcamp.com): “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz since September 2014.”

Episode 1: Paul Lytton

Experimental Sound Studio & Catalytic Sound — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 09:00:00 -0600

In this June 2015 conversation, Paul Lytton discusses his musical origins in 1960s London, experiences playing with Evan Parker, Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley, and Barry Guy, and his recent foray into painting. This episode is sponsored by Astral Spirits Records: “The New Wave of Heavy Free Jazz since September 2014.” (astralspirits.bandcamp.com)