Pedro Moreno/ Epistrophy Arts

2009 was another fine year for adventurous music all over the world and in Austin. While most of the activity took place deep in the margins of the 'Live Music Capital of the World',there were so many events of such high quality and originality that it feels like our local scene has never been healthier. Here is looking to an amazing 2010!

TOP 09 in 09

1. The biggest event and something that will be sure to make quite an impact on local adventurous culture in the following years is Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten's decision to move to Austin. Norwegian creative music powerhouse and bassist extraordinaire, Haker-Flaten is a member of the Thing, Atomic, Free Fall, Scorch Trio and many other prominent international avant-garde jazz ensembles. Ingebrigt will make his debut as an Austin resident at the 2009 No Idea Festival on Sat. January 16 playing with Mexican free jazz saxophonist Remi Alvarez. http://www.ingebrigtflaten.com/

2. Seeing multi-instrumentalist Cooper-Moore at this year's No Idea Festival was simply amazing. As was the rest of the multi-faceted and international line up for this cutting edge festival. Chris Cogburn has grown his No Idea Festival into something really unique. It is quite easily the most genuinely radical music event in our region, bringing together improvisors and sound artists from Europe, Latin America, Austin and the greater United States. Chris's work building bridges with the Mexican avant-garde musical community deserves major Kudos! http://noideafestival.com/

3. KOOP DJ Rick Kendrick's stewardship of the new avant-garde jazz radio show Cutting Edge (Sundays 7-8:30 PM) was one of the most welcome developments on the local jazz front. And the addition to the line up of jazz scribe and bon-vivant Clifford Allen's deep crates and bottomless knowledge of free music arcana is the icing on the cake.... http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Cutting-Edge-KOOP-917-FM/150413301735?ref=ts

4. 2009 was another fantastic year for new releases but 'Bag It!' by the Thing on Smalltown Supersound easily tops the list. Steve Albini's production does the best job yet of capturing that deep emotion and the shamanic intensity that the group unleashes regularly during live performances. The bonus disc entitled Beef Brisket (dedicated to Ruby's BBQ) and Bear Guerra's stark b/w concert photos from their November Austin show are a nice shout out to the local scene from our good friends from Scandinavia... Watch out for a return of The Thing in late June presented by Epistrophy Arts!!!
CD Image http://matsgus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/bagit.jpg

5. Not avant-garde in the traditional sense, but Charisse Kelly and Noel Waggener's Heavy Light Records launch party and presentation of funk gospel group The Relatives was nothing short of transcendent. Their sold-out performance at the Continental Club had the same spririt raising and stage levitating power of the most intense free jazz concert. http://heavylightrecords.com/

6. The expression 'Keep Austin Weird' is being used to sell all kinds of stuff these days, so that it has lost some of its meaning... But, nobody is keeping it weirder than Aaron Mace and the collective freak scene that is The Church of the Friendly Ghost. Their calendar is so jam packed full of genre-defying music and performance that it is easy to overlook some of the amazing world-class stuff they have pulled off. Some standouts include Eugene Chadbourne's residency and Frank Rosaly solo and ensemble performances. My personal fave was their presentation of the Humanization 4tet from Lisbon Portugal and Dallas.

7. The Ab Baars Trio with Ken Vandermark and Peter Brotzmann/ Nasheet Waits / Eric Revis Trio performances at the Victory Grill were standouts in our organization's history. Great crowds, good press and good vibes all around made for 2 memorable performances. I especially dug the Brotzmann Trio's 2nd set where they mined some somber and deeply emotive ground....

8. The passing of Tina Marsh. Austin and the world lost an amazingly talented and creative human being. Among many other talents, Tina was a creative catalyst and tireless advocate for adventurous culture in our town. Tina Marsh and CO2 did so much to expand my awareness for adventurous jazz. Tina was also responsible for introducing Austin to many world-class improvisors and artists including Kidd Jordan, Rova Saxophone Quartet, Roscoe Mitchell, Kenny Wheeler, Hamiett Bluiett among others. I will always be grateful for Tina's support and encouragement with Epistrophy Arts. Her loss is immeasurable.

9. Lots of other standouts including, the Austin New Music Coop, Fusebox Festival, Frank Gratkowski's solo show at the Salvage Vanguard, UT Performing Arts center presenting Sonny Rollins and Charles Lloyd in the same season!