Caffeine (album)

1994 studio album by Caffeine

Caffeine

Studio album by

Caffeine

Released| 1994
Recorded| November 20, 1993
Studio| Sparrow Sound Design, Chicago
Genre| Jazz
Length| 72:59
Label| Okka Disk
Producer| Jim Baker
Ken Vandermark chronology
| Big Head Eddie
(1993)  | Caffeine
(1994)  | Solid Action
(1994)

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Caffeine is the eponymous debut album by the free improvisation trio consisting of Jim Baker on piano, Steve Hunt on percussion and Ken Vandermark on reeds. It was recorded in 1993 and released on Okka Disk. By the time of recording, Vandermark and Hunt were members of the NRG Ensemble.[1]

## Reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
DownBeat| [4]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz| [3]

In his review for AllMusic, Alain Drouot states that "the music is extremely dense, despite the fact that the session only involves a trio and the musicians avidly seek to fill all the spaces ... Despite its shortcomings, Caffeine manages to sustain the listener's interest due to, in particular, Hunt's and Baker's attention to details."[2]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that "with Baker and Hunt, Vandermark is slightly too exposed."[3]

The Chicago Tribune review by Howard Reich states that "Baker's restless pianism, Vandermark's penetrating reed work and Hunt's meticulous percussion perpetually react to one another in unexpected, novel ways."[5]

The DownBeat review by Bill Shoemaker states: "Caffeine provides high-energy blow-outs followed by explorations of space and color. Baker's first recorded outing is appetite-whetting, as he skillfully skirts Taylor's long shadow."[4]

## Track listing

[edit]

All compositions by Baker/Hunt/Vandermark

1. "Two Car Garage" – 16:14
2. "Landscape on the Events Horizon" – 46:58
3. "Beyond the Gum Wrapper" – 9:46

## Personnel

[edit]

* Jim Baker – piano
* Steve Hunt – percussion
* Ken Vandermark – reeds

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Caffeine at Okka Disk
2. ^ a b Drouot, Alain. Caffeine – Caffeine: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
3. ^ a b Cook, Richard; Brian Morton (2002). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. The Penguin Guide to Jazz (6th ed.). London: Penguin. p. 1487\. ISBN 0140515216.
4. ^ a b Shoemaker, Bill. Caffeine review. DownBeat September 95: page 46. Print.
5. ^ Reich, Howard. Caffeine review at Chicago Tribune

* v
* t
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Ken Vandermark

Years given are for the recording(s), not first release, unless stated otherwise.

Studio albums|

* Caffeine (1993)
* Big Head Eddie (1993)
* Solid Action (1994)
* Standards (1994)
* International Front (1994)
* Utility Hitter (1995)
* Blow Horn (1995)
* Hoofbeats of the Snorting Swine (1995 & 1996)
* All Night Burner (1995 & 1997)
* A Meeting in Chicago (1996)
* Real Time (1996)
* Single Piece Flow (1996)
* Hidden in the Stomach (1996)
* Target or Flag (1997)
* Baraka (1997)
* Deep Telling (1998)
* Straight Lines (1998)
* Funky-Do! (1998)
* Simpatico (1998)
* Expansion Slang (1998)
* Design in Time (1999)
* English Suites (1999)

Live albums|

* Stumble (1998)
* Live in Wels & Chicago, 1998 (1998)
* Live at the Glenn Miller Café (1999)
* Hoxha (2004)

Related articles|

* Discography
* Boxhead Ensemble
* The Flying Luttenbachers
* NRG Ensemble

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