Irreversible Entanglements

Irreversible Entanglements
Irreversible Entanglements playing Rhizome in Washington, D.C. on March 8, 2020
Background information
Genres
Years active2015 (2015)–present
Labels
Members
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.