Brad Dutz
Percussionist Brad Dutz was a fixture of the Los Angeles music scene from his arrival in 1982 until his recent departure for the state of Washington. A versatile multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader, Dutz has recorded 40 albums under his own name and appears on countless others as a partner and side-man. With eclectic influences from experimental jazz to folk music from across the globe, he is a master of a vast array of percussion instruments.
Brad’s newest RBR album is a masterful collection of chamber jazz improvisations: Sarek Seemed Satisfied. These nine pieces mysteriously feel orchestrated, though all were improvised in the studio. His multi-talented supporting cast includes Sara Schoenbeck on bassoon, Rachel Therrien on trumpet, Joe Giordano on trombone, and Jasper Dutz on clarinet and bass clarinet.
Oktet, Brad’s first release on Right Brain Records, is an ornate, organic and original chamber jazz collection. Listen on Spotify.
The theme for Oktet is “8”. This collection of 8 octets was somehow assembled during a pandemic with a remarkable cast of accomplished players. In a sense it completes a running trilogy, with 2009’s nonet (Nine Gardeners Named Ned) and 2017’s dectet (Ted Technicians Titled Ted). Driven by decades’ experience and the fragility of these troubled times, Oktet is among Dutz’s finest work in a career with many contenders for that honor.
Album cover art by Kaoru Mansour.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that Brad also teamed up with fellow percussion master Ron Coulter on a freely improvised duo album Doppelbängers and its follow-up Juxtapositions.
Brad Dutz live with Oktet at The Chapel in Seattle, September 17, 2022