has become one of the most in-demand drummers in avant-garde jazz and experimental rock since emerging as a key member of the New York downtown scene during the '90s. After growing up in Seattle, he moved to Boston to attend Berklee and began performing and recording with
. In 1991
moved from Boston to New York City (as did many others who would become prominent in the N.Y.C. avant jazz world). He became a member of
. In addition to his regular performances and recordings in these groups,
, and many others.
developed a multi-tasking approach to drumming with a constant flow incorporating various objects from bells to bowls to hand drums, wowing countless live audiences and helped to bring a new generation of listeners to jazz and improvised music.
As the 2000s began,
Black surprised some of his jazz fans with the establishment of his rock-inclined
AlasNoAxis quartet, also featuring longtime collaborator
Speed on tenor sax and clarinet,
Skuli Sverrisson on bass, and
Hilmar Jensson on guitar.
Black proved as innovative as ever as a bandleader, this time exploring post-rock/experimental directions while continuing to draw from his background in avant jazz. Seemingly balancing influences from Seattle and Icelandic rock with Brooklyn jazz, the
AlasNoAxis quartet blends harsh textures and a disarming melodicism, while always emphasizing
Black's assertive and often skewed rhythmic foundation. As of 2006,
AlasNoAxis had released four CDs (all on the Winter & Winter label):
AlasNoAxis (2000),
Splay (2002),
Habyor (2004), and
Dogs of Great Indifference (2006).
Meanwhile, during the 2000s
Black has remained a key member of a number of other working groups, most prominently
Chris Speed's yeah NO,
the Ellery Eskelin Trio,
Hilmar Jensson's Tyft, and
the Satoko Fujii Four, not to mention a reunited
Human Feel (with a new CD slated for release on
Speed's Skirl Records label in 2006). One of
Black's highest-profile gigs has been as drummer for
Laurie Anderson's touring band (which also includes bassist
Sverrisson).
–
Joslyn Layne & Dave Lynch, Rovi