Irreversible Entanglements

American band
  • free jazz
  • avant-garde jazz
  • post-punk
  • noise rock
Years active2015 (2015)–presentLabels
Members
  • Camae Ayewa
  • Tcheser Holmes
  • Aquiles Navarro
  • Keir Neuringer
  • Luke Stewart
Websiteirreversibleentanglements.com

Irreversible Entanglements is an American free jazz collective formed in 2015.[1][2] The improvising quintet consists of vocalist Camae Ayewa (also known as Moor Mother), drummer Tcheser Holmes, trumpeter Aquiles Navarro, saxophonist Keir Neuringer, and bassist Luke Stewart.[3][4] Their albums have been celebrated as among the best in new music by The Wire,[5][6] The Quietus,[7] Magnet,[8] NPR Music,[9][10][11] and Stereogum.[12][13]

History and career

The members of Irreversible Entanglements met through music and activism: bassist Luke Stewart shared bills with Camae Ayewa's band the Mighty Paradocs; saxophonist Keir Neuringer worked with Books Through Bars, whose events Ayewa has emceed; and the trio of Ayewa, Stewart, and Neuringer was followed by the duo of Aquiles Navarro and Tcheser Holmes at a 2015 Musicians Against Brutality event following the shooting of Akai Gurley.[1][3]

Their 2017 debut, Irreversible Entanglements, was included in best-of-year lists in The Wire,[5] The Quietus,[7] NPR Music,[9] and in Stereogum's Best Jazz of the Decade for the 2010s.[12] Their second album, Who Sent You?, was celebrated as among 2020's best in The Wire,[6] Magnet,[8] Stereogum,[13] AllMusic,[14] and NPR Music's 2020 Jazz Critics Poll.[10] Their third studio album, 2021's Open the Gates, was recognized for its expansion of the group's sound, with their range and innovation drawing comparisons to the New York Art Quartet,[15] Sun Ra,[16] and the Art Ensemble of Chicago.[17] The album was included among the year's best in NPR Music[11] and Treble.[18]

Irreversible Entanglements performed in the inaugural season of the Kennedy Center's "Direct Current" contemporary culture showcase.[19]

The group's instrumentalists also performed on Ayewa's debut theatrical work, Circuit City.[20]

Discography

Studio albums
Live albums
  • Live in Italy (2020)[25]
  • Live in Berlin (2020)[26]

References

  1. ^ a b Camp, Zoe (2 April 2020). "The Revolutionary Free Jazz of Irreversible Entanglements". Bandcamp Daily. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. ^ Empire, Kitty (13 November 2021). "One to watch: Irreversible Entanglements". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b Ng, Ivana (May 2020). "Irreversible Entanglements: Who Sent You?". DownBeat. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ Kim, Joshua Minsoo (20 March 2020). "On the new Who Sent You? Irreversible Entanglements are more political and potent than ever". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Listen to The Wire's Top 50 Releases of 2017". WIRE. December 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. ^ a b "The Wire's Releases Of The Year 2020". WIRE. December 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b Smith, Stewart (13 December 2017). "Complete Communion: The Best Jazz Of 2017". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  8. ^ a b Meyer, Bill (15 December 2020). "Best of 2020: Jazz/Improv". Magnet Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. ^ a b "The 100 Best Songs Of 2017". NPR. 13 December 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  10. ^ a b Davis, Francis (14 January 2021). "The 2020 NPR Music Jazz Critics Poll". NPR. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  11. ^ a b Chinen, Nate (16 December 2021). "The Best Music Of 2021: NPR Staff Picks". NPR. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Freeman, Phil (9 January 2020). "The 20 Best Jazz Albums Of The 2010s". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  13. ^ a b Freeman, Phil (10 December 2020). "The 10 Best Jazz Albums Of 2020". Stereogum. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  14. ^ "AllMusic Best of 2020". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  15. ^ a b Iacobini de Fazio, Megan (18 November 2021). "Open the Gates". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ^ Schray, Martin (28 December 2021). "Irreversible Entanglements - Open The Gates (International Anthem, 2021) ****½". The Free Jazz Collective. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  17. ^ Krcatovich, Dustin (12 November 2021). "Irreversible Entanglements: Open the Gates". The Quietus. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  18. ^ "The 50 Best Albums of 2021". Treble Magazine. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Irreversible Entanglements - DIRECT CURRENT: Millennium Stage (March 13, 2018)". The Kennedy Center. 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  20. ^ Beta, Andy (October 14, 2020). "Moor Mother: Circuit City". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  21. ^ Beta, Andy (25 March 2020). "Who Sent You?". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  22. ^ Todd, Harry (20 March 2020). "8.0 Irreversible Entanglements Invoke the Revolution on Who Sent You?". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Irreversible Entanglements share their new album, Who Sent You?". WIRE. March 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  24. ^ Terich, Jeff (14 November 2021). "Irreversible Entanglements – Open the Gates". Treble. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  25. ^ "AMN Reviews: Irreversible Entanglements – Live in Berlin (2020; Bandcamp); Live in Italy (2020; Bandcamp)". Avant Music News. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  26. ^ Scherstuhl, Alan (24 June 2020). "Jazz Is Built for Protests. Jon Batiste Is Taking It to the Streets". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 July 2022.