“My life changed the day we recorded the Exchange sessions. I couldn't believe I was involved in making this music. It was such a revelation to be able to create improvised music with this epitome of African-American rhythmic drum tradition." - Kieran Hebden
Kieran Hebden is a name you most likely already recognize via his groundbreaking work as Four Tet, and as a member of post-rock collective Fridge. From his debut album “Dialogue" to his most recent full-length “Everything Ecstatic," Kieran's sound has constantly evolved at a time when many electronic producers have been stuck in a rut, looking for answers in the newest synth or software plug-in. Kieran, on the other hand, finds his inspiration in the hinterlands of jazz, Krautrock and experimental electronic music - the technology is but a tool, a means to an end rather than the end itself. And if that's not enough to impress you - Hebden keeps a brisk pace remixing names from the world of rock music (Radiohead, Bloc Party), electronic music (Aphex Twin, Bonobo), hip- hop (Madvillain) and more.
Steve Reid is a name who you may not immediately know, but you undoubtedly should - Reid is the legendary drummer who in 1964 at 19 years of age played on Martha Reeves & the Vandellas' 'Dancing In The Street', and subsequently went on to play with Miles Davis, Fela Kuti and James Brown (think about that for a moment), not to mention Fats Domino, Sun Ra, Peggy Lee, Chaka Khan, Dexter Gordon, Dionne Warwick and many, many more. Early in April this year, Reid went into The Exchange in Camden, London (where Kieran cuts his records) to extemporize with the young man from Four Tet.
Wholly improvised, unedited and without overdubs, 'The Exchange Session Vol. 1' is the real-time first result of this fecund union, due to be released on Domino Records. The second volume of this session is due to be released in mid-2006, along with a U.S. tour with dates to be confirmed soon. It was a musical marriage destined to occur, and both Hebden and Reid are extremely pleased with the results. We hope that you will be, too...
“I consider us to be pioneers, doing the electricity and the drums live. In the future this is going to be considered really important, but for now there's just this." - Steve Reid
For more information contact All About Jazz.
