MKNZ Ilirska Bistrica, Saturday, 03.06.2000:

The VANDERMARK 5 (USA)

KEN VANDERMARK formed THE VANDERMARK 5 in the spring of 1996 as an outlet for compositional and improvisational ideas he`d developed over the years of work with such renowned bands as the NRG ENSEMBLE, THE PETER BRÖTZMANN CHICAGO TENTET, the AALY TRIO, the VANDERMARK QUARTET, the STEELWOOL TRIO, CINGHIALE, STEAM, THE BARRAGE DOUBLE TRIO, THE SOUND IN ACTION TRIO and TRIPLEPLAY.

Lookig for a combo with the capability to sound like a large ensemble, he chose four exceptional musicians who have years of performance experience with different kinds of improvised music to join him on the project:

JEB BISHOP - trombone/guitar, KENT KESSLER - bass, TIM MULVENNA - drums, and DAVE REMPIS - alto saxophone who replaced MARS WILLIAMS in March of 1998.

The range of instrumentation and stylistic potential contained in this unit has allowed VANDERMARK to write charts that run the gamut of musical possibilities, incorporating elements of JAZZ HISTORY, CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION, FUNK, ROCK, and TRADITIONAL MUSIC from around the world into the ensemble`s material. The focus remains, however, on improvisation, and he has allowed ample room for the members of the group to reinterpret his writing with their spontaneous ideas.

The VANDERMARK 5 has always concentrated on live performance as a means to hone its skills and has played regularly since its inception (of special importance is their ongoing Tuesday night series at the Empty Bottle in Chicago that began in November of 1996).

1998 was especially productive with a two week tour of Eastern America in the Fall and two international Festivals within four months - RIVE THE GIER - France and THE AKUT FESTIVAL - MAINZ - Germany.

The band`s work has been documented on 5 CDs so far.

The second studio CD "TARGET OR FLAG" was picked as the best record of 1998 by the CADENCE MUSIC MAGAZINE (Jan. 1999 READER`S POLL).

The VANDERMARK 5`s music has been called "the most consistently exciting stuff I`ve heard by any small U.S. band since the ART ENSEMBLE OF CHICAGO." CADENCE MUSIC MAGAZINE.

KEN VANDERMARK link