The duo of Catherine Sikora (Eric Mingus, Elliott Sharp) and Brian Chase (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, John Zorn) pairs two distinguished artists of the avant-jazz community. Tearing at the line of innovation and tradition, this duo steps forth with music merging the lyrical and the abstract, the spontaneous and the composed, and the expressive with the restrained. For the duo’s debut album, untitled: after, Catherine and Brian turned to the epic poem Beowulf for inspiration. The classic text’s themes of fearlessness, battle, and courage proved to be analogous to current life experience, and were channeled into compositions as a basis for improvisation. Think John Coltrane’s Interstellar Space meets epic poetry as depicted in an adaptation for film.
Catherine Sikora - tenor and soprano saxophones
Brian Chase - drumset
"These noble musicians have performed courageous deeds on this fantastic album. To them, we should submit and yield tribute." 4/5 Stars
- Robert Ham, DownBeat Magazine
Sikora’s performances are passionate and commanding. If there was any doubt that she ranks among the best of today’s avant-garde jazz players, this disc is a triumphant response.
No matter the pace, her sax is an absolute force. It’s not difficult to imagine more than a few accompanists shying away from an invitation to join her.
Which is precisely why Chase is such a well-suited partner. There is no second fiddle in this duo. He’s with Sikora every step of the way. The interplay is inspiring.
- Kevin Press, baddpress.blog
Visit https://www.chaikinrecords.com/untitled-after for further info.