John Corbett (writer)
Encyclopedia
John Corbett is a writer, musician, radio host, teacher, record producer, concert promoter, and gallery owner based in Chicago
. He is best known among musicians and music fans as a champion of free jazz
and free improvisation
. In recent years he has become known in the visual art world as well through his Corbett vs. Dempsey gallery.
Corbett's activities include:
For many years he hosted a radio show on WHPK
called Radio Dada. More recently, he has co-hosted a jazz show called Writer's Block on WNUR
with fellow jazz writers Kevin Whitehead and Lloyd Sachs.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He is best known among musicians and music fans as a champion of free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
and free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
. In recent years he has become known in the visual art world as well through his Corbett vs. Dempsey gallery.
Corbett's activities include:
- musician playing free improvisationFree improvisationFree improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
, usually on acoustic guitar - staff writer for Down BeatDown BeatDown Beat is an American magazine devoted to "jazz, blues and beyond" to indicate its expansion beyond the jazz realm which it covered exclusively in previous years. The publication was established in 1934 in Chicago, Illinois...
magazine - curator, with Ken Vandermark, of the Wednesday night jazz series at the Empty Bottle in Chicago, since 1996
- artistic director of the Berlin Jazz Festival in 2002
- record producer; he curates the Unheard Music SeriesUnheard Music SeriesThe Unheard Music Series is an imprint of the American record label Atavistic Records. The series, running since 2000, is curated by Chicago writer and producer John Corbett and focuses mainly on free jazz recordings from the 1960s and 1970s...
for Atavistic RecordsAtavistic RecordsAtavistic Records is an American rock and jazz record label based in Chicago, Illinois, known particularly for its No Wave and free jazz recordings. It has released albums by Glenn Branca, Nels Cline, Lydia Lunch, Peter Brötzmann, various Ken Vandermark projects, Pinetop Seven, Swans, Elliott...
, reissuing both classic and obscure recordings of free jazzFree jazzFree jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
and free improvisationFree improvisationFree improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
, and has also produced new recordings by Peter BrötzmannPeter BrötzmannPeter Brötzmann is a German artist and free jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.Brötzmann is among the most important European free jazz musicians. His rough, lyrical timbre is easily recognized on his many recordings.-Early life:...
and others - adjunct associate professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he has taught since 1988
- co-owner, with Jim DempseyJim DempseyJim Dempsey is a Scottish former football player and manager.As a player Dempsey, who was known as a hard man., was most associated with Hamilton Academical, with whom he had two spells, and Raith Rovers, although he also turned out for Stirling Albion, Albion Rovers and Larkhall Thistle.He had a...
, of Corbett vs. Dempsey, a Chicago art gallery
For many years he hosted a radio show on WHPK
WHPK
WHPK-FM is a radio station based in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, this frequency is also used by several local high schools in the Chicago metropolitan area.The University of Chicago owns the station's FCC license...
called Radio Dada. More recently, he has co-hosted a jazz show called Writer's Block on WNUR
WNUR
WNUR-FM is a 7200 watt radio station based in Evanston, Illinois that broadcasts to Chicago and its northern suburbs. Northwestern University owns the station's FCC license.-History:...
with fellow jazz writers Kevin Whitehead and Lloyd Sachs.
Books
- Extended Play: Sounding Off from John Cage to Dr. Funkenstein (Duke University Press, 1994)
Discography
- I'm Sick About My Hat
- Van's Peppy Syncopators (with Hal Rammel and Terri Kapsalis)
- The Devil's in the Details (with Hal Rammel)
- Battuto (with Mats GustafssonMats GustafssonMats Olof Gustafsson is a Swedish saxophone player and a stalwart on the Scandinavian free jazz scene. He is known for his tonal belligerence and intensity when improvising....
, Terri Kapsalis, and Fred Lonberg-HolmFred Lonberg-HolmFred Lonberg-Holm is an American cellist based in Chicago. He relocated from New York City to Chicago in 1995.Lonberg-Holm is most identified with playing free improvisation and free jazz. He is also a composer of concert works...
) - Twofer (with Torsten Müller and Fred Lonberg-HolmFred Lonberg-HolmFred Lonberg-Holm is an American cellist based in Chicago. He relocated from New York City to Chicago in 1995.Lonberg-Holm is most identified with playing free improvisation and free jazz. He is also a composer of concert works...
) - Humdinger (with Davey WilliamsDavey WilliamsDavid Carlous Williams was an All-Star second baseman who played his entire career for the New York Giants of the National League. Listed at 5' 10", 160 lb., Williams batted and threw right-handed...
) - Sticky Tongues and Kitchen Knives (with Mats GustafssonMats GustafssonMats Olof Gustafsson is a Swedish saxophone player and a stalwart on the Scandinavian free jazz scene. He is known for his tonal belligerence and intensity when improvising....
)