Nick Butcher and Free Jazz Bitmaps: the journey and the destination.
Over the past few months, we’ve been watching / hearing / feeling Nick Butcher make a record in real time. Free Jazz Bitmaps Vol. 1 has built its own skeleton in the shape of of six very limited lathe cut 7” records delivered in handmade packages crafted in Nick and Nadine Nakanishi’s studio, Sonnenzimmer. These magical and momentary seeds, planted all year long, have taken root. With the release of the final two installments, we’re also celebrating the upcoming evolution into the LP format, where Nick’s collection of songs will be paired with reinterpretations by a selection of Chicago’s most badass improvisers: Adasiewicz, Daisy, Jackson, Reed, Roebke, and Stein.
Check out Free Jazz Bitmaps Vol. 1’s final two singles here:
- Nick Butcher “Great Lake Part One” (from the fifth 7” in the series)
- Nick Butcher “Cozy Kitchen” (from the sixth and final 7” in the series)
Those lucky enough to be in Chicago tonight will be able to get their hands on the final 7” in the series and get to see Free Jazz Bitmaps in action, with Nick Butcher performing alongside Jason Roebke and Jordan Martins at The Whistler. Paul Giallorenzo and Tim Daisy will also perform. Roebke and Daisy will be featured improvisers on the upcoming Free Jazz Bitmaps Vol. 1 LP, which will also be exclusively offered for pre-order at tonight’s show — and will soon be available for pre-order from Hometapes, with our most striking earlybird gift yet: a multicolor screen printed poster by Sonnenzimmer. We can’t wait to show it to you. Lucky Chicagoans who pre-order will walk home with one tonight.
For now, enjoy the music and stay tuned. Visit Nick Butcher on Bandcamp to experience the singles that are the building blocks of one of 2012’s most exciting releases.
