The July 2021 episode of Roulette TV is devoted to percussionist Ches Smith‘s quartet with musicians Craig Taborn, Mat Maneri, and Bill Frisell. Accompanied by live footage from their concert at Roulette in May 2021, Smith discusses the origins of the group, the years of working together through touring, the pandemic, and his ongoing relationship with Roulette.
Ches Smith: drums and percussion
Craig Taborn: piano
Mat Maneri: viola
Bill Frisell: guitar
performance date: May 21, 2021
release date: July 13, 2021
The best thing I caught all weekend,” said critic Peter Margasak of the 2014 New York Winter Jazzfest, “was a superb trio led by drummer Ches Smith with pianist Craig Taborn and violist Mat Maneri, which expertly infused seductively narcotic writing with a mixture of brooding melody and rich texture.” The trio released its debut The Bell (ECM) in 2016, and went on to tour extensively, developing its chemistry and camaraderie in the process. Recently, Bill Frisell joined the group to record a new set of music to be released on Pyroclastic Records next year.