Michael Wilson
Michael Wilson
News
- Thursday, November 20, 2008
Chicago Sun-Times: Glenn Kotche, eighth blackbird Concert Offers "Fierce" Performance from "Kindred Musical Souls"
"Glenn Kotche is not your average rock-and-roll percussionist," says the Chicago Sun-Times in its review of Glenn's joint concert on Tuesday with new-music ensemble eighth blackbird at Chicago's Harris Theater. The paper calls the performers "kindred musical souls," mild in temperament, perhaps, but "as fierce as any garage band or chamber players hurtling through a late Beethoven string quartet." Chicagoist's editors faced a conundrum in deciding how to spend their Tuesday night but "realized just how foolish we would be to pass up" what was "a stellar performance" with "a jaw dropping solo rendition of 'Monkey Chant' by Kotche" and, ultimately, "a truly remarkable evening."
- Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Chicago Sun-Times: Kotche-Kronos Pairing, "A Collaboration Waiting to Happen," at Ravinia Wednesday
Glenn Kotche joins Kronos Quartet at the Ravinia Festival's Martin Theatre in Highland Park Wednesday night for the Chicago premiere of Anomaly, a piece he wrote for the Quartet. Also included on the program from Kronos are a number of Chicago premieres, including that of John Adams's Fellow Traveler. The Chicago Sun-Times recommends the event, calling the Kotche-Kronos pairing "a collaboration waiting to happen," given the group's ever-adventurous search for new works outside the typical string-quartet mold and the drummer's own diverse musical interests.
About Glenn Kotche
Heralded by the Chicago Tribune for his "unfailing taste, technique and discipline," Chicago based percussionist Glenn Kotche's exploration of rhythm and space began in childhood in Roselle, Illinois. His interests and efforts landed him at the University of Kentucky's highly-regarded percussion program.
Following graduation, Kotche's various stints with groups and ensembles resulted in participation on more than 70 recordings to date. In 2001, he joined the rock band Wilco. Since joining as drummer/percussionist, Wilco's accomplishments include the gold-selling album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and the Grammy-winning A ghost is born.
Beyond Wilco, Kotche is also one-third of experimental rock trio, Loose Fur, along with Wilco band mate Jeff Tweedy and post-classical composer/producer Jim O'Rourke, which released their self-titled album in 2003. He is half of jazz, experimental duo, On Fillmore, with bassist Darin Gray. Their latest recording, Sleeps with Fishes, landed them at the prestigious 2005 Percussion Pan Festival in Brazil.
Kotche has released two previous solo works, Introducing and Next. His third solo effort, “Mobile”, will be released in early 2006, on Nonesuch Records.
Latest Release
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Mobile
March 7, 2006Wilco drummer Kotche employs a wide range of percussive instruments—vibraphone, kalimba, mbira, drum kit, and more—on this solo set, which includes variation on Steve Reich’s Clapping Music. MOJO calls it “ambitious, accessible, and beautifully played.”
