Ben Goldberg
Production Records

Reviews

Interviews and Features

In reviewing the Go Home cd, Brad Walseth notes that "the energy level and band communication is high - as noticed immediately on the enjoyable opening number - "TGO" - which sounds like Bourbon Street relocated to Mars."

Brad Walseth
jazzchicago.net
February 22, 2010
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Here is an interview with Warren Allen published in All About Jazz. This is highly recommended for an overview of my career and philosophy. 

 

Warren Allen
All About Jazz
March 30, 2010
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Jesse Hamlin of the San Francisco Chronicle visited me at home just before the recording of Unfold Ordinary Mind to talk about Ben's new directions in songwriting.

Jesse Hamlin
San Francisco Chronicle
March 29, 2012
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Writing in the San Francisco Chronicle, Andrew Gilbert quotes Carla Kihlstedt: "For me, Ben has been one of the most influential improvisers since I moved to the Bay Area."

Andrew Gilbert
San Francisco Chronicle
February 18, 2008
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Unfold Ordinary Mind + Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues

On the NPR show Fresh Air, Kevin Whitehead reviewed both new records, providing well-calibrated clips to illustrate the variety of music. If you have a moment, it's well worth listening to Kevin's thoughts, in which he concludes "Some of Goldberg's new tunes sound like forgotten pop songs — an air of familiarity that keeps the music's feet on the ground even when the improvisers start to fly away.

Kevin Whitehead
Fresh Air with Terry Gross
February 28, 2013
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Writing in PopMatters, Associate Music Editor John Garratt awards Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues eight stars (out of 10) and gives Unfold Ordinary Mind nine as he makes the case for both records: "In defense of labeling, I am required to use words to convey just how convincing Ben Goldberg’s two new masterpieces are. On the other hand, categorically compartmentalizing music that glides along this easily might diminish one’s interest. So take the sound of a clarinet, juggle it with trumpet and sax, and try to imagine the best sounds available to these instruments. Throw in a spunky electric guitar, and you’ve got yourself an instrumental cruise line that can outshine your favorite double rock album. Don’t believe me? Give it a try then."

John Garratt
PopMatters
March 06, 2013
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In Audiophile Audition, Doug Simpson says "Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues and Unfold Ordinary Mind share similar musical sensibilities: both have a loose swinging feel and both shift from style to style but maintain continuity."

Doug Simpson
Audiophile Audition
March 04, 2013
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Textura weighs in on orchestration: "Including Eskelin and Sudduth as a sax-heavy front-line proves to be a masterstroke, so much so that at various times during the forty-seven-minute set tenor devotees will feel like they've died and gone to heaven."


textura
February 27, 2013
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Giving each record four stars in Downbeat Magazine, Peter Margasak writes that "Goldberg's virtuosity on clarinet has been long established, but together these two albums serve notice to those who weren't paying attention that he's also a formidable composer, arranger and leader."

 

Peter Margasak
Downbeat
February 27, 2013

Peter Margasak
Downbeat
February 27, 2013
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At All About Jazz, Troy Collins writes: "Whether divining inspiration from past antecedents or modern innovations, Goldberg's compositional purview is consistently imaginative, as demonstrated by the stylistic diversity heard on these two releases."  Full review here.

Troy Collins
All About Jazz
February 18, 2013
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In NPR's The California Report, Andrew Gilbert says "An album this fun and eventful easily stands on its own, but together with "Unfold Ordinary Mind," "Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues" traces the evolution of an artist who now seems to find beautiful melodies at the end of every path."  Listen to, or read, the full review here.

Andrew Gilbert
The California Report
February 08, 2013
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In the LA Times, Chris Barton says Unfold Ordinary Mind and Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues "offer a portrait of a uniquely restless artist that two CDs still can’t entirely capture."

Chris Barton
Los Angeles Times
February 20, 2013
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In the Chicago Reader Peter Margasak says "Both albums mark a concerted effort by the reedist to bring out his more melodic side, and on that count he succeeds magnificently, delivering some of the most gorgeous and pleasing compositions in his career."

Peter Margasak
Chicago Reader
February 13, 2013
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The New York Times’ Ben Ratliff writes that the records convey “a feeling of joyous research into the basics of polyphony and collective improvising, the constant usefulness of musicians intuitively coming together and pulling apart.” (Read the full review here)

Ben Ratliff
The New York Times
February 12, 2013
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Unfold Ordinary Mind

Bird Is The Worm has an appreciation of Unfold Ordinary Mind: "This is not standard music.  This is not the jazz equivalent of a pop album.  But in the theme of the Avant-Pop manifesto, Goldberg has created an album that should have mass appeal, both within the jazz camps and also the fans of other genres, while simultaneously sneaking in approaches that speak far more to the avant-garde experimentalism that should receive wider acceptance and appreciation in society... this album is Something Different that sounds like Something Familiar."


Bird Is The Worm
February 19, 2013
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When Unfold Ordinary Mind played the Windup Space in Baltimore, Al Shipley was there to report: "Goldberg’s sturdy low end is the eye of the storm, and Cline, as always, is the subtlest of guitar gods."

Al Shipley
Baltimore City Paper
December 13, 2012
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Brian Howard caught Unfold Ordinary Mind in concert at Johnny Brendas in Philadelphia, and reports on "an evening that constantly challenged paradigms, unfolding minds in the process."

Brian G. Howard
The Philadelphia Inquirer
December 12, 2012
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Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues

Fred Kaplan, writing in Stereophile, (who else you gonna trust?) says Subatomic Particle Homesick Blues is "one of the best-sounding new jazz CDs I've heard in a long time. The horns are right there, arrayed in a row; you can practically see the air pushing through their shapes and out into the room. The bass snaps and sings; the drumkit slaps and sizzles."

Fred Kaplan
Stereophile
February 22, 2013
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S. Victor Aaron writes: "Clarinetist Ben Goldberg sometimes gets so out front with his musical vision, it takes years to catch up with him."

S. Victor Aaron
Something Else Reviews
February 20, 2013
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Orphic Machine

The second performance of Orphic Machine took place at the Blue Whale in Los Angeles on March 7, 2012. The Los Angeles Times' Chris Barton was there, and reports on Ben's "knotted and occasionally spooky composition marked by dazzling interplay."

Chris Barton
Los Angeles Times
March 06, 2012
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Go Home

In a five-star review in the Vancouver Sun, Marke Andrews writes "this is true new music with original instrument voicings, strong compositions and innovative musicianship from everyone ... the brass-reeds ensemble voicings are refreshingly new." For some reason, the only archived version of this review is on a page called Led Zeppelin News at Rockzilla.

Marke Andrews
Vancouver Sun
March 21, 2010
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In his column Notes On Jazz, Ralph Miriello writes that "the groove Amendola and Hunter maintain is infectious and allows Goldberg and Miles the freedom to weave their brass and reed sounds into a magical patois that crosses multiple genres of influence in marvelous and inspired ways."

Ralph Miriello
Notes On Jazz
March 24, 2010
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In All About Jazz, John Kelman says "Go Home is the perfect combination of music for the head, the heart...and the feet."

John Kelman
All About Jazz
December 15, 2009
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New Klezmer Trio

Native Dancer ecrit: "Pour ma part, je ne boude pas mon plaisir. Rien de démonstratif ici, tout est retenu, subtil - mono-chromique et extatique par moment - avec un Ben Goldberg concentré sur les textures, le choix de la juste note et un sens très délicat du silence et de la respiration."

Damien
Native Dancer
June 25, 2010
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In One Track Mind Rewind, S. Victor Aaron writes about New Klezmer Trio's Feedback Doina, from Melt Zonk Rewire. Aaron writes: "In particular, “Feedback Doina” is unconventional because it’s not just a combination of klezmer and jazz; it’s a blend of klezmer, jazz and metal. The first three-fifths of the track is dominated by Seamans’ over-amped bass exploding into the white noise of feedback, while Goldberg noodles on top of it and Wollesen is rummaging around below it."

S. Victor Aaron
Something Else Reviews
February 20, 2013
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Tin Hat

In State of Mind, J Hunter says "there's a stunning brilliance to the quiet madness Tin Hat creates. And if they need a live audience to reach these levels, then somebody keep them on tour!"

J Hunter
State of Mind
May 15, 2010
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