Recording: Dwyer/Cole/Steinwall/Farncombe

Artist: Ben Dwyer/Josh Cole/Emily Steinwall/Ewan Farncombe

Songs: two untitled pieces^*

Recorded at The Tranzac's Southern Cross Lounge (Karen Ng Presents), January 22, 2020.

Ben Dwyer/Josh Cole/Emily Steinwall/Ewan Farncombe - untitled #1

Ben Dwyer/Josh Cole/Emily Steinwall/Ewan Farncombe - untitled #2

The previous couple times I had seen Ben Dwyer playing it was on double bass, so this served as a reminder how capable he is on saxophone as well. And also as a composer, as this was a set of new pieces he's working on, dwelling in a sweetly-melancholic, atmospheric ballad-y zone. ("Is this a suite?" on audience member asked after the first few pieces. "it's not a suite, it's a... vibe," Dwyer responded.) Flanked by Emily Steinwall on tenor up front, the saxes were given a frame by Josh Cole's bass and Ewan Farncombe's keyboards, unrushed by percussive interference.

^* Remind me to update this when these pieces get names!

Recording: The Noah Sherman Quartet

Artist: The Noah Sherman Quartet

Song: Shadow Puppet Patrol [edit]

Recorded at The Emmet Ray (Somewhere There Presents), July 17, 2016.

The Noah Sherman Quartet - Shadow Puppet Patrol [edit]

This was the first chance I had to make it out for Somewhere There's casual monthly at The Emmet Ray. SWT collective member Noah Sherman brought out this grouping, with his percussion work enhanced by Emily Steinwall (sax), Luan Phung (guitar) and Peter Bull (5-string bass). Over two sets they tackled pieces from Sherman's songbook, a couple (including this one) from Bull plus pieces by John Zorn and The Thing.