Monday, December 19, 2011

BIRD DIES 'REVIEW AT FREE JAZZ'

The Ames Room - Bird Dies (Clean Feed, 2011) ****

The Ames Room may be small but their sound is bold and forceful. This French/Australian trio lays into you like the first time you got beat up as a kid. It's sheer brute force and once you finally give in there is this little blissful nature that sets in. The feeling that this might be all there is left for you. But The Ames Room help you realize there's more inside the noise than you realize. The Ames Room have only been on the scene for a short time (since 2007) but have crafted a sound that is blistering and beautiful. Fans of Vandermark, Gustafsson, Haker Flaten and Nilssen-Love are sure to gravitate to the trio's new album, Bird Dies (Clean Feed). This one piece live recording follows up where their debut, IN (Monotype Records; 2010), left off--a full frontal attack of chords against the borders of a genre.There's no build up here. The Ames Room make their statement known from the first note. They come out of the gates ripping forward like Gustafsson's The Thing in mid-performance. The staccato drums, breakneck sax and suffocating basslines that dominate the first 15 minutes of the piece are impressive for the duration as well as the stellar delivery.The gears shift only slightly around the 23min mark. Guionnet's takes the lead but is challenged perfectly by Guthrie's cascading patterns. Meanwhile Thomas paints a small rhythm in the background. There are moments just after the half hour mark that remind of Ornette Coleman's Change Of The Century. A calm descends on the closing ten minutes only to be resurrected to the opening salvo of white noise which cuts deep then comes full-stop.
The audience at this performance was probably left in awe. You can only briefly feel it from low volume mic on the audience. But make no mistake The Ames Trio is building a following and will leave an indelible mark on your senses. Bird Dies is challenging music but isn't that what music is all about?
By Stef

"The Ames Room is French altoist Jean-Luc Guionnet with Austrialians Clayton Thomas on bass and Will Guthrie on drums. This album is without a doubt one of the most intense you will hear, with Guionnet setting up the pace and sound from the start and then not letting go at all, despite the numerous variations within the very strict boundaries in which their cry of freedom erupts. This album is indeed one long shout, all in the same spirit : voluminous, expansive, full of drive and energy, relentless and raw, with a take-no-prisoners approach. The accompanying press kit speaks of "terror jazz", and the descriptor is not too far fetched."

This is how I described the band's album "In" released last year. I cannot add much more for this album : it is as ferocious, energetic and relentless, even further pushed to the limit because the album contains one single fourty-eight minute track, as recorded live in Lille, France in March 2010. Both Thomas and Guthrie have the approach of a rock band, bringing them closer to The Thing than to Brötzmann, while Guionnet keeps on hitting the same mid-range sonic attack with a limited choice of notes, no lyricism to speak of, but all repetitive assault of the senses, hypnotic, mad, as if something's got to give way, like an endless cry ...

For those of you who like to spice up their meals with dynamite, don't hesitate to buy this one.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

BIRD DIES ' REVIEW IN JAZZWRAP


A FINE REVIEW OF “BIRD DIES”

Power trios come with various sounds and sizes. The Ames Room may be small but their sound is bold and forceful. This French/Australian trio lays into you like the first time you got beat up as a kid. It’s sheer brute force and once you finally give in there is this little blissful nature that sets in. The feeling that this might be all there is left for you. But The Ames Room help you realize there’s more inside the noise than you realize.
The Ames Room have only been on the scene for a short time (since 2007) but have crafted a sound that is blistering and beautiful. Fans of Vandermark, Gustafsson, Haker Flaten and Nilssen-Love are sure to gravitate to the trio’s new album, Bird Dies (Clean Feed). This one piece live recording follows up where their debut, IN (Monotype Records; 2010), left off–a full frontal attack of chords against the borders of a genre.
There’s no build up here. The Ames Room make their statement known from the first note. They come out of the gates ripping forward like Gustafsson’s The Thing in mid-performance. The staccato drums, breakneck sax and suffocating basslines that dominate the first 15 minutes of the piece are impressive for the duration as well as the stellar delivery.The gears shift only slightly around the 23min mark. Guionnet’s takes the lead but is challenged perfectly by Guthrie’s cascading patterns. Meanwhile Thomas paints a small rhythm in the background. There are moments just after the half hour mark that remind of Ornette Coleman’s Change Of The Century. A calm descends on the closing ten minutes only to be resurrected to the opening salvo of white noise which cuts deep then comes full-stop.
The audience at this performance was probably left in awe. You can only briefly feel it from low volume mic on the audience. But make no mistake The Ames Trio is building a following and will leave an indelible mark on your senses. Bird Dies is challenging music but isn’t that what music is all about?

Stephan Moore in “Jazzwrap” December 12, 2011


the CD is currently available at www.cleanfeed-records.com

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Andrea Neumann / Clayton Thomas

an insolent noise presents....

Andrea Neumann / Clayton Thomas

Andrea Neumann, Innen klavier
Clayton Thomas, double bass

Pisa, Italy, Friday Night.

the end and the beginning - Berlin and Beyond

December 2, 2011

An Insolent Noise Festival,
PISA with MORSAL
Andrea Neumann, innen Klavier
Clayton Thomas double bass

www.aninsolentnoise.com

December 9
Münster with
The Astronomical Unit
Matthias Müller, trombone
Clayton Thomas double bass
Christian Marien, drums

December 15
AltesFinanzamt w/ Heather/Rose/Thomas
Steve Heather, drums
Simon Rose, baritone & alto saxophone
Clayton Thomas, double bass

December 28
Miss Hecker
Edith Styer, alto saxophone
Mikaele Pelligrino, guitar
Clayton Thomas double bass

January 13, 2012
Bielefeld - BUNKER
TRIO AUS
Tony Buck, drums
Johannes Bauer, trombone
Clayton Thomas, double bass

January 14, 2012
Aufsturz Klub, Berlin

Paul Hubweber, trombone
Axel Dörner, trumpet
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Tony Buck, drums

January 15, Neuhollon, Berlin
Willi Kellers Trio, CD LAUNCH
Frank Paul Schubert, alto saxophone
Willi Kellers, drums
Clayton Thomas, double bass

January 29 - February 3, 2012
THE AMES ROOM ON TOUR
Jean-Luc Guionnet, alto saxophone
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Will Guthrie, drums


OK! More soon.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

SOLO TONIGHT - DUO TONIGHT

In a related to music event - I'm playing a solo set tonight at the very nice cafe 'Rudi-Marie' on the corner of Maybachufer & Weichselplatz. As I'm shy, I've also invited the great French singer / improviser Emilie Lesbros to join me for a duo.

21:00 Uhr

i think its a donation activity. Much like the music itself.

and, please don't choke on your cake.

Monday, October 31, 2011

OCCUPY BERLIN - BUNDESTAG SATURDAY

Lets do it every Saturday, until we all realise that education, functional heathcare and food are infinitely more important than one man's billion dollar bonus.

Congratulations to Barclay's bank by the way, who have just lodged a record profit.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

9 Lives Volume 5

NOVEMBER 16 & 17, 2011
A night of new, spontaneous or highly prepared combinations
with
Dave Rempis (Chicago) reeds
Jean-Luc Guionnet (Paris) alto saxophone
Adam Simmons (AUST) reeds
Asi Föcker, guitar & voice
Will Guthrie (Nantes) drums
Steve Heather, drums
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Dorothea Münch, voice & guitar
Anthea Caddy, cello

91Mq Project Space Landsberger Allee 54, Prenzlauer/F'schain

21:00 Uhr Punk! Light!

5 euro entry

COMING UP - BERLIN & ELSEWHERE

November 9 - Splitter Orchester Public Rehearsal / Performance

WABE Danzigerstr.101 Prenzlauerberg

www.berlinsplitter.org

November 21:

Michael Zerang, drums

Michael Thieke, clarinet

Magda Mayas, clavinet

Clayton Thomas, double bass


BLUE ALERT

Allerstr.16, Neukolln.

Ubahnhof, Leinenstrasse U8

21:00 UHR

5 euro


November 25 –

Tobias Delius / Martin Blume / Clayton Thomas trio

Bocholm.

November 26 – SPLITTER presents MASS APPEAL

WABE Danzigerstr.101 Prenzlauerberg

November 27:

CHRIS CORSANO / CLAYTON THOMAS DUO

FESTSAAL KREUZBERG

Supporting Nisennenmondai & Oneohtrix Point Never

December 2 – MORSAL // Duo with ANDREA NEUMANN

AN INSOLENT NOISE FESTIVAL Pisa, ITALY

December 9, 2012 – THE ASTRONOMICAL UNIT

w/ Matthias Müller & Christian Marien

visitation in Münster

December 15 –Simon Rose/Steve Heather/ Clayton Thomas TRIO

AltesFInanzamt, Neukolln

December 28, TRIO w Edith Styer & Mikaele Pelligrino

Miss Hecker, Mitte

Thursday, October 27, 2011

THE AMES ROOM - Hitting it.


Jean-Luc Guionnet, alto saxophone
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Will Guthrie, drums









17 November, 2011 - 91Mq - Berlin

18 November 2011 – Głośna - Poznan PL

19 November 2011 – Mozg Festival – Bydgoszcz PL

29 January 2012 – La Java – Paris

31 january 2012 – Cave12 – Gevena

3 February 2012 – Lille

visit www.theamesroom.wordpress.com for more details indeedy.

Splitter Orchester - MASS APPEAL


Dear all,
coming up - NOVEMBER 26!

The Splitter Orchester returns for a night of new, living, breathing adventures in sonic eco-systems.

featuring...
Liz Allbee, trumpet
Boris Baltschun, electronics
Burkhard Beins, percussion
Anthea Caddy, cello
Anat Cohavi, soprano saxophone
Clare Cooper, harp & guzheng
Mario de Vega, electronics
Axel Dörner, trumpet
Kai Fagaschinski, clarinet
Steve Heather, drums
Chris Heenan, contrabass clarinet
Matthias Müller, trombone
Andrea Neumann, innen klavier
Morten J. Olsen, percussion
Penelopex, field recordings
Simon James Phillips, piano
Ignaz Schick, rotating surfaces
Michael Thieke, alto clarinet and clarinet
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Sabine Vogel, flutes

WABE:
Danzigerstr.101
Prenzlauerberg
BERLIN

12 & 8 euro entry

www.wabe-berlin.de

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

the week in Berlin























Dear friends and neighbours,
there are some fine concerts in our collective future -
for maximum enjoyment, collect them all.

Tuesday Night
September 27, 2011
Altes Finanzamt:
Schönstedt St. 6, Neukolln

ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE
Olivier Diplacido, guitar & electronics
Julian Bonequi, drums
Clayton Thomas, double bass

21:00 uhr
5 euro

Wednesday Night
September 28, 2011

SPLITTER ORCHESTER
Open Return
20:00 KONZERT!

www.berlinsplitter.org

Doors Open at 19:30
WABE, Danziger 101, P'Berg
5 euro entry


Thursday Night
September 29, 2011
The Ames Room:
Bird Dies CD release

Jean-Luc Guionnet, alto saxophone
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Will Guthrie, drums

'Clean Feed Days'
Exploratorium
Mehringdamm 55

8/10 euro entry

21:00




Saturday Night:
October 1, 2011
SOWIESO
Weisestrasse 24, Neukolln

Ute Wasserman, voice
Antonis Anissegos, piano
Andrea Sanzvela, violin
Mikaele Pellegrino, guitar
Clayton Thomas, double bass

21:00 Uhr
5 euro


Monday Night
WENDEL
October 3, 2011
Schlesishestrasse 42
Kreuzberg

Tobias Delius, reeds
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Darren Moore, drums

21:00 uhr FOR REAL!


October 8, 2011
"Movers & Shakers"
at Ausland with:

THE COMEBACK SPECIAL
play the dystopian music of Elvis Presley

Vesna Pisarovic, voice
Gerhard 'Gary Castle' Gschlößl, trombone
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Steve Heather, drums

and many others

DJ Hep C & The Soul Clap will also be rocking the late night.

October 18, 2011
B-Flat
Rosenthalerstr. 13, Mitte

Ava Mendoza, electric guitar (USA)

with

THE ASTRONOMICAL UNIT
Christian Marien,drums
Matthias Müller, trombone
Clayton Thomas, double bass



enjoy sonic artefacts at www.soundcloud.com/clayton-thomas

best o
Clayton

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

The Ames Room - Bird Dies


CD Release, August 2011 on Clean Feed:
Jean Luc Guionnet, alto sax
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Will Guthrie, drums

file under ouch.

www.theamesroom.wordpress.com

The Astonomical Unit - on tour


October 10 - 18, 2011
Booking now for a rocking trio near you

Matthias Mueller, trombone
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Christian Marien, drums

Willisau Festival 2011

AENEMONAE
Peter Evans, trumpet
Frederic Blondy, piano
John Butcher, saxophone
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Paul Lovens, drums

Saturday, August 28, 2011
20:00

METEO, France

August 26 & 27, 2011
METEO

CONNECTIVES:
Burkhard Beins, percussion
Ignaz Schick, objects and turntables
Thomas Ankersmit, saxophone
Jerome Noetinger, revox and electronics
Clayton Thomas, double bass

THE AMES ROOM:
Jean-Luc Guionnet, alto sax
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Will Guthrie, drums

Freenology at Nickelsdorf july 21-23

Sonny Simmons, alto sax & english horn
Guy Bettini, trumpet
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Paul Lovens, drums

Nickelsdorf Konfrontationen, 2011
www.konfrontationen.at

Jazz A Luz, France

July 7, 2011:
FREENOLOGY:
Sonny Simmons, alto saxophone & english horn
Guy Bettini, trumpet
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Paul Lovens, drums

July 10, 2011
SYRINGE
Werner Dafeldecker & Clayton Thomas, double basses

Jazz A Luz
www.jazzaluz.com

THYMOPHLALEIN: LP Launch, Melbourne

Anthony Pateras, piano, composition, doepfer
Natasha Anderson, computer, block flute
Jerome Noetinger, revox, tape and electronics
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Will Guthrie, drums

June 9, 2011 Melbourne Recital Center
June 10, 2011 - Supporting FAUST at THE FORUM
June 12, 2011 - OVERGROUND Festival

Tim O'Dwyer Trio / CD LAUNCH


June 7, Bennets lane, Melbourne
The Melbourne International Jazz Festival

The Tim O'Dwyer Trio launch: Falconry

Tim O'Dwyer, baritone, alto and bass clarinet
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Darren Moore, drums

Two sets from 20:00
$10 entry

Tonight & Sunday

FRIDAY NIGHT:
May 20, 2011

Solo Film Soundtrack:
EI ODER JOHAN, DER BÄCKER
NL 1987, 54 min., Danniel Danniel, mit Johan Leysen u.a.h

Live soundtrack by Clayton Thomas, double bass, mini-moog

Regenbogen Kino
Lausitzerstr. 22, Kreuzberg
HINTERHOF

20:30 / 5 euro entry


SUNDAY
May 22, 2011

WENDEL:
Schleschisestr. 42
Tristian Honsinger, cello
Clayton Thomas, double bass
Andrea Sanzvela, viola
Lutz Wernicke, violin

22:00 donation at the door