Caffeine (album)

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]

Caffeine
Studio album by
Caffeine
Released1994
RecordedNovember 20, 1993
StudioSparrow Sound Design, Chicago
GenreJazz
Length72:59
LabelOkka Disk
ProducerJim Baker
Ken Vandermark chronology
Big Head Eddie
(1993)		 Caffeine
(1994)		 Solid Action
(1994)

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
DownBeat[3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz[4]

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."[4]

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."[3]

Track listing
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

References
  1. Caffeine at Okka Disk
  2. Drouot, Alain. Caffeine – Caffeine: Review at AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  3. Shoemaker, Bill. Caffeine review. DownBeat September 95: page 46. Print.
  4. 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.
  5. Reich, Howard. Caffeine review at Chicago Tribune
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