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Metamorphism, Russ Lossing

Penetrate the world of modern jazz, improvisation and composition today and you will find one of its most stimulating and innovative artists. Russ Lossing has drawn worldwide attention for his unique vision, deep integrity, and thoughtfully humanistic voice. He is known for his examining musicality. Lossing is a provocative and fresh leader in creating alternatives to long held conceptions in music. His individual voice, as a player and composer, is sought out in the jazz and avant-garde fields emerging in music today.

Russ Lossing has been part of the New York jazz scene since 1986. Lossing played with drummer Paul Motian over a period of 12 years and was a member of the Paul Motian Quintet which played week long gigs at the Village Vanguard in New York.

Russ Lossing has composed over 400 works and is in specialized demand as a world class jazz pianist and improviser. He has 18 CDs as leader and is featured on over 50 other CDs as sideman and collaborator with world acclaimed musicians. Lossing has 5 cds as leader on the storied Swiss avant-garde label HatHut Records in addition to releases on the Sunnyside, Cleanfeed, Fresh Sound, Double Time, Steeplechase and OmniTone labels as well as his own label Aqua Piazza Records.

Lossing has performed in some of the world's leading jazz festivals including the London, Vienna, Harlem, Cully (Switzerland), Toronto and Venice (Italy) Jazz festivals to name just a few. He has also performed in jazz clubs in New York and Europe including The Village Vanguard, Blue Note NYC, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, Porgy and Bess (Vienna), Unterfahrt (Munich), Jazz Club Ferrara (Italy) and many more over a span of 40 years.

Lossing's brief but intense study with John Cage in the early '80s and his more recent 12 year association with Paul Motian continue to inform his music at present.

Musicians

Russ Lossing – piano
Loren Stillman – alto and soprano saxophone
John Hébert – bass
Michael Sarin – drums

Lossing’s latest recording, Metamorphism, is an extension of his continually evolving compositional identity. Here he presents eight original compositions, each written with its own particular strategy for interplay among a stalwart ensemble of longtime collaborators. It is only with musicians with whom he has established a deeply felt musical connection that this music could actually be realized. // The members of the quartet have been regular collaborators with Lossing for decades. Each member of the ensemble is a unique instrumentalist with a broad palette and ability to play many styles without conforming to established sounds. Lossing met Michael Sarin some thirty years ago when the drummer moved to New York City from Seattle. Sarin’s pairing with bassist John Hébert, already a longtime associate, provides a variety of rhythmic and harmonic feels necessary for Lossing’s pieces. Lossing was a member of Loren Stillman’s first recorded ensemble, when the saxophonist was only 14 years old, and their musical affinity has grown exponentially over the past 25 years. The ensemble is crucial to the success of the pieces. The open, impressionistic sensation of Lossing’s tunes has been one that he has always aimed for.

Track List : listen

Three Treasures – 8:55
Sojourn – 8:13
Metamorphism (for Paul Motian) – 12:25
Mai – 10:51
Pileatus – 2:30
Blind Horizon (for Andrew Hill) – 9:21
June Jig – 6:33
Canto 24 – 9:30

Episode #160

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