Vandermark 5: New Influences Added Daily

originally published September 26, 2001

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The Vandermark 5 members have similarly active performing schedules and demands. Saxophonist Dave Rempis is busy with his trio Triage, and the Factions & Fissures Double Trio. Trombonist Jeb Bishop leads his own trio, and is in demand as a sideman. Double-bassist Kent Kessler is in DKV Trio with Vandermark and drummer extraordinaire Hamid Drake, and also in pianist Georg Graewe's phenomenal quartet. Drummer Tim Mulvenna is one the most active percussionists in Chicago, playing everything from jazz to wedding gigs.

New ideas are thus brought to the table for Vandermark 5, the leaders' primary compositional outlet.

"The Vandermark 5 has had its own five-album, five-year trajectory based on developments within the chemistry and communication of the individuals in the band, and on developments in my own musical ideas," says Vandermark.

How does a bandleader maintain a "sound" without the band growing stagnant?

"Of course shifts in interests of the members have resulted in changes in the band's aesthetics over time, and many times these developments have been caused by working in projects outside of the Five," Vandermark says. "I'd say one of the biggest changes in the sound of the group is due to the fact that Jeb Bishop no longer plays the electric guitar, so the band is dealing with a less ’electric' sound."

Bishop has stopped playing guitar altogether, and is concentrating on trombone. This could sink a rock band, but the Vandermark 5 has not altered course significantly.

Ken explains the adjustment: "In terms of composing, I've attempted to keep the stylistic diversity despite this change, which has forced the members to dig deeper into the sonic capabilities of their instruments and playing, so we don't lose any color possibilities in the absence of the guitar."

Vandermark has listened to just about every style of music, and nothing escapes his notice. Not limiting the Vandermark 5 to one notion of a jazz group, he says, "I'm mainly interested in incorporating whatever musical ideas inspire me, whatever the source. Right now this includes Delta blues music, Morton Feldman, Misha Mengelberg and James Brown, plus about a thousand others..."

Even a cursory listen to the Vandermark 5 reveals all these influences, though the music is always distinctly new. Vandermark is fortunate to live in Chicago, where there is plenty of music happening; there he gets to see how others deal with appropriating the past. However, since he's been traveling more and more, he has to work when he gets back to Chicago to find out what's going on.

"There are a number of younger players that are coming up," he says. "I think two of the best of these groups are Triage and the Aram Shelton/Brian Dibblee Quartet. The battle to find places to play and develop the music is ongoing, but it seems to be possible for many other players in town to present the music on a really regular basis. When I'm home, I'm still playing between two and three times a week, which is unbelievable."

The new album, Acoustic Machine (Atavistic Records), was recorded in the old way, just some microphones in the room, and an amazing ensemble. The Vandermark 5 is on a world tour, once again. New influences will be added daily.