southern records

The Vandermark Five have a new CD, Simpatico, out on Atavistic. Click HERE to view the sleeve and track listing.

From 97's landmark Single Piece Flow debut thru to 98's blistering Target Or Flag albums, The Vandermark 5 steered a thrilling course of musical growth - driven equally by the need for creative exploration and organic progression. But with the advent of Simpatico, Ken Vandermark has directed his monolithic quintet towards surprising, decidedly untested waters.

Though a familiar film-noir essence underpins much of Simpatico, its emphatically deployed compositions clearly transcend any previous sonic manoeuvring by The 5 - and frankly more often than not, defy mere words as well. Veering from peaks of pure avant-careen to interludes almost reverently traditional, Simpatico's wide swath never fails to captivate.

Along with the stalwart nucleus of Kent Kessler (Bass), Tim Mulvenna (Drums) and multi-instrumentalist Jeb Bishop, Vandermark is joined by newcomer Dave Rempis, who has replaced the inimitable Mars Williams to fine effect. This current incarnation of the V5 explores & exploits the underlying grooves of Vandermark's compositions like no other, distinctively bridging their explosive improvisations with the muscular foundations underneath.

In other words, it's the Vandermark 5's finest hour yet.

Check out the discography page.