Klotski [LP]

Lao Dan Chicago Quaret - Klotski [LP]

LP version. Chinese multi-instrumental Lao Dan, a rising star of free jazz with a deep background in traditional music from his homeland, debuts a blistering new quartet recording featuring three of the most important figures from the Chicago scene -- percussionist Michael Zerang, bassist Joshua Abrams, and pianist Mabel Kwan. Over the last decade or so the Chinese multi-instrumentalist Lao Dan has emerged as one of the most hard-driven, skilled, and versatile figures of the improvised music community. While his earliest work found him exploring new, improvisational terrain with the dizi, a traditional Chinese bamboo flute used in many regional musical approaches, his lyric delicacy on that device has been countered by his ferocious energy and searing tone on the tenor saxophone. He first surfaced on the global scene in 2019 with Live at Willimantic Records, a fiery live date recorded a year earlier in Connecticut with stalwart Western Massachusetts free jazz figures Randall Colbourne and Paul Flaherty, along with double bassist Damon Smith. Dan's restless spirit has led him to travel the planet, building new connections, collaborating with many different musicians. Dan's dual interest in folkloric traditions and free jazz led to an interest in the duo work of Chicago percussioni(more...) 01. Green Tongue 02. Wandering Donkey 03. Thunderball 04. Plum Drink 05. Klotski