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The remarkable proliferation of free jazz, improvised music, and other experimental activity here in recent years can’t be explained by a single factor, but Vandermark’s persistence and willingness to play under less-than-ideal circumstances–bad sound, poor promotion, low attendance–have been integral to the scene’s health. His quartet’s incendiary, relentlessly edgy, almost weekly performances at HotHouse between 1993 and 1995 attracted lots of curious listeners, many of whom were bored with rock but knew little about jazz, and helped open minds all over town to challenging music.
A few years ago, Vandermark was giving his all to as many as six distinct projects, but lately he’s been concentrating on just three: the Vandermark 5 (whose debut album, Single Piece Flow, came out on Atavistic this week), Steam, and the DKV Trio. Although he still maintains membership in the NRG Ensemble; loose, largely improvisational collaborations such as Caffeine, Steel Wool, the Barrage Double Trio, and Cinghiale; and the instrumental R & B outfit the Crown Royals, Vandermark claims he’s made a concerted effort to stop spreading himself so thin.
“Someone like McPhee can build an unbelievable musical architecture from just a couple of notes,” says Vandermark, “and it’s made me realize that sometimes it’s best not to play anything in certain situations.”
