And/Or You

Since arriving in Portland in 2009, multifarious bassist Andrew Jones has been difficult to categorize. Locals might have seen him on stage at a jazz club, playing balkan folk music at the Laurelthirst, or accompanying experimental theater in a chicken coop in far SE. He may have been getting deeply weird with guitar astronaut Mike Gamble at NO FUN or singing a haunting duet with powerhouse singer-songwriter Kelli Shaefer at Mississippi Studios. He’s also spent time traversing Europe, Australia and North America with artists like the critically acclaimed Julia Holter, Brooklyn art rock veterans Barbez and DIY avant-pop power couple Teton. While his work as a session player, improviser, arranger, recordist, and mixer has appeared on dozens of records and hundreds of gigs stretching across a multitude of stylistic universes, Jones has also been crafting his own unique musical world. The Crenshaw, a self-titled full length album documenting his duo with drummer Christopher Johnedis combined dastardly vocal/upright bass counterpoint with 90s EDM inspired beats and shimmering virtual synths to earn him a reputation among pacific northwest avant gardists. Under the moniker and/or you, Jones is distilling those elements into a more focused and lyrically driven art song.

Devin Gray

Brooklyn-Berlin based drummer-composer Devin Gray made his widely lauded leader debut in 2012 with the release Dirigo Rataplan, which included a crew of heavyweight veterans Ellery Eskelin, Michael Formanek and Dave Ballou. JazzTimes said that Gray’s debut represented “the work of a young artist who knows who he is.” Free Jazz blog encapsulated the album this way: “…one of the best debut albums in years.” In 2015 Gray released Relative Resonance, a band of close New York associates: Chris Speed, Kris Davis and Chris Tordini. All About Jazz noted “…the questing, inquisitive, risky nature of the compositions is no less bracing than Anthony Braxton’s finest work.” In 2018 Gray reconvened his all-star group for Dirigo Rataplan II, with the establishment of the record label Rataplan Records. The album shines with rich harmony, and earworm melodies. Fans from Alice Coltrane and Henry Threadgill to Dave Holland and Craig Taborn will dig this organic, engrossing mix of composition and improvisation. 

Now in 2023 he gives us Most Definitely, a first showcase of his solo performances. Years of bandleading and sideman experiences have led to his growth as a continually forward thinking creative artist. This music is far from a standard solo project, offering a full length adventure of vision from an artist committed to his craft’s propulsion. The release date is congruent with his 40th birthday while internationally touring in support of the project. 

Most Definitely is a rapid paced listening experience presented on 23 tracks and clocking in at over an hour of music. As a whole, the record runs the gamut of energies, inspirations, and pure love of music. The tracks are grouped in three simple identifying themes, soft, medium, and loud; however the tracklist delivers them in a mixed order of Gray’s taste. Upon listening to standout tracks such as Hunker Down, Pull to Refresh, or Soldier On, Milford, you start to feel the precision that is brought to the forefront of the entire recording. Hunker Down creates an intimate safe space where you can easily let your guard down. Pull To Refresh questions your internet connection speed, while Digital Nomads relates to a common “on the fly” type of modern lifestyle. All throughout the tracks there are electric twists, twirls, and scrapes, which push the envelope of musical possibilities from a solo drummer setting. The record’s strengths and successes lie equally in the eloquent orchestration of blended electronics balanced with Gray’s high level improvisational performances.

Gray thrives on not stating the obvious and through experimenting with percussive colors and improvised soundscape grooves. He explains some of his musical processes behind the work by stating, “My music is a result of deliberate experimental decisions which often obscure common musical practices, all the while trying to weave in spontaneous forms from the fringes.” Individual track’s stories deliver unique musical moods such as: Blues (in the standard form), diverse textures such as ASMR, and hints of “A Night In Tunisia” mixed with industrial acoustic Autechre inspirations. Just listen to his ever growing catalog of dizzying collaborative output; Gray’s is known for his musical convictions. 

About inspiration, Gray says “I was obsessed with music at an early age through the power of non-tonal percussion, and therefore traditional harmonic and melodic structures have always come to my ears as an additional bonus.” Also worth noting that he pays historical respects by dedicating pieces to luminaries such as Milford Graves, Ed Blackwell, Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams, as well as close friends Daniel Levine and Jaimie Branch, who both passed during the making of the record. Other themes explored on the record include wit filled relatable modern internet jargon. Track titles Bad WiFi, Doom Scrolling, Crypto Punks, and Subscription Fatigue share a reflection of progressive approaches to music making. A touch of Gray’s humor as he tips his hat to many artists and current progressive lifestyles of 2023. Gray’s personality is delivered directly to the listener as if you are between the microphones and his drums. During many moments your ears are actually closer to the vibrating sounds than his. Further reflection led to him stating, “I love people, and I wanted to create a work of extreme detail where one can listen very closely to what it is that I am communicating through my playing. The electronic integration really ramps up the excitement of this music for me, making it an honest modern musical offering, of which it Most Definitely is.”

Pacific Lumber & Wire

open source string improvisation

Hosted by bassist Andrew Jones, Pacific Lumber & Wire is a monthly gathering of local string players working with open source structured improvisation/conceptual composition. The intention is to create a zero risk environment to explore sound and community cooperation, with a healthy dose of play and catharsis achieved. Prompts, graphic notation, games, process pieces- any and all ideas are entertained, adapted and integrated as they’re offered and molded by the group. 

Andrew Jones, bass

Shao Way Wu, bass

Harlan Silverman, cello

Alex Ellsworth, cello

Alexis Mahler, viola

Cecille Elliott, viola

Jacob Mitas, violin/viola

Richie Greene, violin

Kate Kilbourne, violin