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There’s usually no deader week on the local concert calendar than this one, but for fans of improvised music there are a couple of Christmas presents: On Wednesday reedist Ken Vandermark and drummer Tim Daisy meet up at the Hideout for an evening of spontaneous music-making that will surely be akin to the fine 2006 Empty Bottle gig captured on August Music (a limited CD-R release). The two work together in several contexts these days—from the Vandermark 5 to the Frame Quartet to Bridge 61—so they have a strong, natural rapport, whether they’re shaping high-octane, heavily rhythmic blasts or focusing on slow-moving textural excursions.
Paul Motian Trio 2000 + 2, Live at the Village Vanguard (Winter & Winter)Ravish Momin’s Trio Tarana, Miren (A Longing) (Clean Feed)Oren Ambarchi, In the Pendulum’s Embrace (Southern Lord)Maria Rita, Samba Meu (Warner Music Latina)Orion Rigel Dommisse, What I Want From You is Sweet (Language of Stone)