SONORE
Peter Brötzmann, Mats Gustafsson, and Ken Vandermark, leading figures in contemporary improvised music, formed the reed trio SONORE to explore the full melodic, rhythmic, and textural potential of free improvisation. Their collaboration grew from shared work in the larger Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet, with the trio’s identity solidifying during an intensive European tour in 2003. This period of nightly performances across various cities, utilizing an array of saxophones, clarinets, and other reeds, allowed their unique collective voice to fully develop, culminating in their first album, “No One Ever Works Alone.”
The music of SONORE is distinguished by its non-hierarchical and fluid structure. Unlike traditional jazz ensembles with fixed roles, the trio operates through shifting combinations of solos, duos, and trios that respond spontaneously to the musical moment. They weave together their vast individual experiences—from Brötzmann’s iconic status in European improvisation to Gustafsson’s innovative work and Vandermark’s pivotal role in Chicago’s scene—to create intense, beautiful, and utterly unique soundscapes that could only come from this specific partnership.
No One Ever Works Alone
