Kevin Norton

The day after a rare and triumphant presentation in New York (with Henry Grimes and Andrew Cyrille, at the 2008 edition of the Vision Festival), British saxophonist Paul Dunmall recorded this album with Tony Malaby, Mark Helias and Kevin Norton. It was hot, very hot, in that day (the 15) of June, and the music here recorded has the same high temperature.

One of the mainstays of the New York avant-garde since 1978, Anthony Coleman has worked with every major name in the downtown scene and more. A brilliant player, composer and critical thinker, his projects are some of the most consistently interesting and radical around.

This international improvising ensemble has been going since 1984 with various members, but a couple of years ago leader and legendary Norwegian sax and clarinet player Frode Gjerstad handpicked a new band of musicians that has meant something special for him during his long career. The title of this monumental 3CD set is relevant on several levels.

Trio Viriditas has in it’s three musicians full equality; saxophonist Alfred Harth, bass player Wilber Morris, and drummer, percussionist, Kevin Norton. Each with an equal role in the speech, improvisation and composition.

And this is a triangle of great improvisers.