Recordings - Robert Dick

Structures of Unreason (5)

STRUCTURES OF UNREASON

Shhpuma SSH065CD (2021)

Robert Dick — Glissando Flute™, bass flute and piccolo; Nicola Hein — electric guitar.

Nicola Hein is a German electric guitarist with a truly unique approach in the music he plays and the ways he makes the electric guitar sound. Robert and Nicola met in New York and played several improvised concerts together, in usual and unusual circumstances(!) They made this recording on February 26, 2020, just before the Covid-19 shutdown. Structures of Unreason is a set of improvised duos that will stay new no matter how often they’re heard. Take the "Benthic Elevator” way deep into the collective consciousness!
Laugh and Lie Down (4)

LAUGH AND LIE DOWN

Chant CR2101RO (2021)

Robert Dick — Glissando Flute™, bass flute and piccolo; Dan Blake, soprano saxophone

Years ago, in a reality far away (when spelling “pandemic” was problematic), Robert met Dan Blake at the City University of New York Graduate Center, where Dan was a DMA candidate working with Robert on his compositions. The two also took some time out to improvise together and found their special zone. Both Dan and Robert had a personal connection with the great Steve Lacy. Robert had performed with Steve in the late 70s, and Dan had studied with him at the New England Conservatory. While their music doesn’t overtly invoke Lacy's, there is a subterranean connection to it. Dan invited Robert to play a set on a concert at Scholes Studio in Brooklyn in October 2019. Both musicians noted the unwavering level of intensity in their dialog. The concert was beautifully recorded — and here it is! Notes by Allan Kozinn.
Solar Wind (13)

SOLAR WIND

NotTwo MW986-2 (2019)

Robert Dick, voice, Glissando Flute™, bass flute, piccolo; Miya Masaoka, koto, electronics and percussion; Joëlle Leandre, voice and contrabass

Miya Masaoka had the idea for this trio. Robert and Miya had played duo concerts together, and the music wanted to grow, so Miya invited Joëlle. Both Joëlle and Robert mix their singing into their instrumental textures. It’s a source of joy to me how creative musicians invent detailed new worlds, full of life. We three have done that here. Titles of the tracks range form “Friends of the Sun” through “How Old is Your Shadow?” to “Prepsychotic Philosophers”. From the notes by Marc Hannaford “The dance of agency between recording and listener is a large part of what makes Solar Wind and the musicians on it so compelling."
The Damn Think (1)

THE DAMN THINK

Chant CR1905RO (2019)

Robert Dick, voice, Glissando Flute™, bass flute, piccolo; Adam Caine, acoustic and electric guitar

In March 2017, Adam came to a concert (a duo with Tiffany Chang - see “Raise the River”) during my residency at the Stone, dug it, and asked if we could do a session. A musical partnership was born! This set of improvisations was recorded at Chinatown’s legendary Mavericks Studio in December 2017. From the contemplative “Eyes of the Beholder” to the maximally intense (I mean it!) title track, Adam and Robert told the story of their inner lives at the time. They have continued their music together and have expanded to a trio with Tiffany Chang. Watch this space in 2023 for the trio’s first recording!
Raise the River (10)

RAISE THE RIVER

Rogueart ROG0080 2018

Robert Dick, Glissando Flute™, flute, bass flute, bass flute in F, contrabass flute, little flute in G, piccolo; Tiffany Chang, drums

In the early 2010s, I was coaching a free improvisation group in the NYU Jazz Department. It was the musical high point of my teaching week. The drummer couldn’t make it to a session one time and asked Tiffany, who had graduated a few years earlier,, to sub for hIm. I was blown away by her playing and asked her to play bunch of duo gigs around town. You’d think flute and drums would be common, but despite the primal truth of the combination, it’s not. In 2015 we decided to record. Peter Karl made this exceptionally clear recording and mix. You can hear the full range of my flutes on this recording, from the contrabass all the way up through the very rare little flute in G and on up to the piccolo. This recording isn’t on any streaming platforms, download it here! Notes by Bill Shoemaker.
Three Weeks in Cincinnati in December (1)

THREE WEEKS IN CINCINNATI IN DECEMBER — by William Hellermann

New World 80789-2 (2017)

This is the finest performance of music by another composer that I shall ever record! Back in the 1970s, when I was asking composers to write for me, Bill Hellermann wrote the absolute best solo flute piece composed for me. Epic in proportion at 51:31 (not a typo), the piece begins with mysical whispertones and settles into a continuous world of multiphonics, played without break with circular breathing. The duality of this piece is extraordinary — a floating, ephemeral world produced in an incredibly physically demanding way. Playing this piece, which I trained for like an athletic event, was like running a marathon on a continuous uphill course. Yet the goal was the feeling of out of body effortlessness. Recorded by the masterful Judith Sherman. Notes by Allan Kozinn.
Are There? (11)

ARE THERE?

Mulatta MUL0037 (2017)

Robert Dick, Glissando Flute™, alto flute, bass flutes in C and F, piccolo

Ulrike Lentz, Glissando Flute™, flute, piccolo, alto flute, flute tubes

One of the flute world’s secrets is the extraordinary improviser Ulrike Lentz, who I met in Kassel, Germany in about 2012 or so. Personal reasons bring me to Kassel several times a year, and Ulrike and I get together to play for ourselves and to perform duo concerts. We decided to share our secret with you and recorded a concert we played at the Music Academy of the City of Kassel in December 2016. If you look at the instrumentation, you’ll see that this recording is the first ever, anywhere, in which two flutists are playing Glissando Flutes™, which are flutes using my invention, the Glissando Headjoint™. A genre is born! We also traverse a vast spectrum of flutes, musical ranges and, most importantly, expression! Notes by Matthias Schubert.
@ (13)

“@"

Unit LC 00817 (2106)

DKZ — Robert Dick, flutes; Uli Johannes Kieckbusch, piano; Alfred Zimmerlin, cello

DKZ was active in the decade I lived in Switzerland, 1992 - 2002. We recorded this music at Radio DRS in Zürich in November 2001. It took a long time for “@“ to be released, fifteen years! It was really worth the wait, and I’m so glad that our music lives on in this recording. Uli has a sonic circus worth of unique piano preparations and Alfred’s approach to the cello ranges from powerful classical virtuosity through electronic sounding, unclassifiable sonorities. This music is full of passion and humor too! When titling the recording, I came up with the idea of the trope of “@“. Each title uses “at”, such as “Frank Byron and Shelly Stein Drink Up at Golem’s” or “Mnemonic Chills at Harmonics”. From the notes by Jürg Solothurnmann “These short inspiring sound sketches are from two to five minutes long. The last title gets right to the point: this music jumps into your ears."
Our Cells Know (8)

OUR CELLS KNOW – Robert Dick, solo contrabass flute Tzadik Records 4015 (2016) Improvisation has been central to my musical life since childhood. Rather than write pieces for this CD, I just practiced on my low flutes and allowed myself to go where the music wanted. I’m unconcerned with expectations of what a flute should sound like and what a flutist should play. To me, all instruments can be treated as human-powered synthesizers, embracing their traditions but not enslaved to them. In this music, I have striven to be my most essential self. I thought of myself very little while playing, letting the music speak as unselfconsciously as possible. The contrabass flute offers expanded sonic dimensions in several ways, particularly in its percussive realms. This is surely the first flute recording of any kind with a piece dedicated to Ginger Baker, my favorite rock drummer.
The Galilean Moons (12)

THE GALILEAN MOONS NEMU Records 017 (2016) Robert Dick – flutes (contrabass, bass flutes in F and C, openhole alto, flute (sometimes with Glissando Headjoint®, piccolo) Ursel Schlicht – piano (on the keyboard and inside the piano) Flute and piano as you’ve never heard before – a kaleidoscopic emotional journey that combines incredibly imaginative sound colors with clear structures that mix composition and improvisation and are a pleasure to follow. All the music is by Robert Dick or Ursel Schlicht or by them both together! Dick and Schlicht have created and performed together since 2004 and their duo is Robert Dick’s primary chamber project. Often startling, intense and explosive at times. There are some strange and wonderful sounds going on. – Downtown Music Gallery, NYC
Flutes & Voices (10)

FLUTES and VOICES
Mutable Music 17451-2 (2010) Robert Dick - flutes (bass flutes in F and C, openhole alto, flute (sometimes with Glissando headjoint®, piccolo) Thomas Buckner - baritone Two long time creative partners went into the studio and spontaneously made this CD. The music is presented in the order it was made. A banquet of energies -- intensity, sensuousity, humor, whimsy, and lots more. An extraordinary musical conversation. I must emphasize how incredibly delightful Mr. Dick and Mr. Buckner's musical daring is to experience. Their style of improvisation removes the listener from any expectation or familiarity with either instrument and delivers one's ears to a new expressive universe. Sequenza21.com
Doh Tala (11)

DOH TALA Robert Dick, Steve Baczkowski, Ravi Padmanabha Epoch Music (2008) Robert Dick - flutes Steve Baczkowski - saxophones Ravi Padmanabha - percussion Improvisations by Robert Dick, Steve Baczkowski and Ravi Padmanabha. "spirited and uplifting dreamworld" Downtown Music Gallery, NYC "This is world music as it's meant to be, flexible without compromise." All About Jazz
Photosphere (7)

PHOTOSPHERE NEMU Records 002 (2005) Robert Dick – flutes (bass flute, flute, flute with Glissando Headjoint®, piccolo) Ursel Schlicht – piano (on the keyboard and inside the piano) Robert Dick and Ursel Schlicht re-invent the flute-piano duo! Recorded live in concert at Dock4 in Kassel, Germany. Photosphere is just incredible! Robert's breathtaking flute playing and dynamic range are well captured here as are Ursel's marvelous piano excursions. – Downtown Music Gallery, NYC
King Chubby - IS (12)

IS by KING CHUBBY Caliente 245 360 624-2 -- (2004) King Chubby: Robert Dick, flutes; Ed Bialek, samplers and keyboards; Will Ryan, percussion and hand made instruments; Mark Egan, electric bass; Michael D'Agostino, drums and percussion. Did you ever wonder what Robert Dick would do with electronic effects? Here is the astonishing answer! Smart with genuine heart, King Chubby are the often promised, never delivered combination of loft jazz and jam bands come to life. -- All Music Guide IS can be defined as the ultimate in instrumental world fusion. They harness the sounds of the Middle East, Spain, Japan, and South America to create a new kind of jam music. -- Meniscus Magazine
Columns of Air (13)

COLUMNS OF AIR - Robert Dick and Jaron Lanier Future Tickle Music (2003) Virtual reality pioneer and multi-instrumentalist Jaron Lanier and Robert Dick craft a program of lyrical and exotic duos. Lanier plays pipe organ, piano, Gu Zheng (a Chinese harp), Clavichord, Oud, baritone 12 string guitar, contrabassoon and more. Dick plays flute, sometimes with his revolutionary "Glissando Headjoint", bass flutes in C and F and piccolo. Santur virtuoso and singer Alan Kushan joins the duo in two pieces. Terry Riley hails this recording as "important music".
Vindonissa (13)

VINDONISSA – Paul Giger, Robert Dick and Satoshi Takeishi ECM 1836 (2003) Swiss violinist Paul Giger brought Robert Dick and Satoshi Takeishi together for remarkable trios, duos and solos. Released only in Europe (but available through the Robert Dick Shop on this site!), this CD finds Robert at his most melodic and lyrical, playing flute, flute with Glissando Headjoint®, bass flutes in C and F, and contrabass flute. An exceptional and breathtakingly beautiful album -- Schwäbische Zeitung This disc is often imbued with a holy light, mystical… -- Classical
King Chubby - Other Times (9)

OTHER TIMES - King Chubby KC-1 (2002) Robert Dick, flutes and electronically manipulated vocals; Ed Bialek, samplers and keyboards; Will Ryan, percussion and hand made instruments. The "Ambient/Overdrive" genre is launched! King Chubby evokes an environment bursting with information overload, multicultural cross-pollination, and comic book surrealism. Subsequently, Other Times has the flow and brashness of a boldly sprayed tag. -- The Wire, London Did you ever wonder what Robert Dick would do with electronic effects on his flute and his voice? OTHER TIMES holds the gorgeous answers!
12 Fantasias for Flute Solo (14)

THE TWELVE FANTASIES FOR FLUTE ALONE BY G.P. TELEMANN Callisto Records CLS0101, Italy 2001 Robert's only pure classical recording to date. Discover the artist returning to his roots in elegant, profound and stylistically informed interpretations. This is a 3 disc set. Disc 1: Robert Dick performs the Fantasies on flute, bass flute and piccolo. Disc 2: Lorenzo Cavasanti performs the Fantasies on period instruments: traversi and recorders. Disc 3: A multimedia disc with scores, photos, interviews. I positively loved the Telemann recording. It is original in thought and conception, well produced and with all the "extras" I think it is one of the most practical and desirable recordings in the field. I loved the bass flute numbers. - James Galway
A.D.D. Trio - Sic Bisquitus Disintegrat (11)

SIC BISQUITUS DISINTEGRAT (That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles) - A.D.D. Trio ENJA Records 9361-2, Germany 2000 The A.D.D. Trio: Robert Dick, flutes; Christy Doran, electric guitar and delay devices; and Steve Argelles, drums; plays music by the members of the trio. This band has played together from 1993 to 2002 and reached a rare peak of musical communication and virtuosity. Robert's dream of a flute-driven power trio brought to sailing, wailing life! If you're the kind of person who wonders how Rahsaan Roland Kirk and the Grateful Dead at their respective peaks might have sounded together, Sic Bisquitus Disintegrat should be high on your shopping list. - JazzReview.com
Gudira (11)

GUDIRA – Robert Dick, Barry Guy and Randy Raine-Reusch Nuscope Records 1003 1999 Gudira is Robert Dick, flute (sometimes with “glissando headjoint”), alto flute, bass flutes in C & F, piccolo; Barry Guy, contabass; Randy Raine-Reusch, Asian Zithers, Asian and Middle Eastern winds, percussion. Exotic, gripping free improvisations by the trio. Simply put, Gudira is a recording of monumental proportions and implications as the teaming of three modern day innovators have crafted a series of improvisations-compositions which are unlike anything this writer has heard. -- AllAboutJazz..com
Oscura Luminosa - In Full Armour (7)

IN FULL ARMOUR - Oscura Luminosa Unit Records UTR 4107 (1998) Along with the A.D.D. Trio, Oscura Luminosa was an ensemble Robert founded while living in Switzerland from 1992-2002. Oscura's thrust was to alchemize extraordinary Baroque musicians - Conrad Steinmann and Petia Kaufmann - with magicians of the contemporary - Robert Dick, Alfred Zimmerlin and Dorothea Schurch. Robert Dick, flutes Conrad Steinmann, recorders Alfred Zimmerlin, cello Petia Kaufmann, harpsichord Dorothea Schurch, soprano This CD features a radical recomposition of Monteverdi's Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, plus free improvisations and the Metallica tune Leper Messiah. The risk of bringing the Monteverdi madrigal into a contemporary version resulted in a musical adventure taken by the quintet Oscura Luminosa. Respectful to the original, they met the challenge with temperament and without artifice. -- Kliene Zeitung, Graz
Jazz Standards on Mars (9)

JAZZ STANDARDS ON MARS – Robert Dick with the Soldier String Quartet and Stellar Guests ENJA Records 9327-2 (1997) Robert Dick with an All-Star Cast: The Soldier String Quartet featuring Regina Carter, Richard Bona, Mark Dresser, Kermit Driscoll, Ben Perowsky, Steve Argüelles Music by Eric Dolphy, Jimi Hendrix, Wayne Shorter, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Robert Dick. One listen to "Machine Gun" and you’ll understand that these folks are into busting through convention. If this really is what jazz standards on Mars sound like, I’ll be hitching a ride on the next space probe to the red planet! – PBS Radio Guide
New Winds - Potion (11)

POTION - New Winds: Robert Dick, flutes; Herb Robertson, trumpet; Ned Rothenberg, alto sax, bass clarinet and clarinet Les Disques Victo 053 (1997) New Winds: play original works and improvisations by members Dick, Robertson and Rothenberg, plus a Dave Douglas tune. This is the fourth (and most likely final) recording by a band that worked together for over twenty years, developing a telepathic sense of musical empathy and maintaining a passionate creative drive. Aeolus would be proud. - Art Lange, Chicago magazine
Aurealis (13)

AUREALIS -- Robert Dick, flutes; John Wolf Brennan, piano; Daniele Patumi, contrabass Les Disques Victo 052, Canada 1997 Trio Aurealis plays original works by members Dick, Brennan and Patumi and inspired improvisations. Aurealis=Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights--coruscating flashes of luminescence b(r)anding the night sky with s(l)ick radiance. Translate that to music and you've got one stellar disc, certainly among the most amazing avant garde jazz albums ever recorded. There's some deep magic happening here. --- Amazon Reviews
Irrefragable Dreams (12)

IRREFRAGABLE DREAMS - Robert Dick and Mari Kimura Random Acoustics, Germany 018 1996 Robert Dick - flutes (bass flutes in C and F, flute, piccolo Mari Kimura - violin Improvisations that are indeed "Irrefragable" -- not able to be refuted or disproved; indisputable. For all its technical derring-do, this is gentle, loving music. But don't infer sentimentality. - www.LaFolia.com Murmuring, trembling, stopping and smelling the perfume, then all the sudden with sharp noise from the throat, splitting up the sky... then silence and shrinking... sounds appear again in a far away place. - Jazz Review, Japan
A.D.D. Trio - Instinct (11)

INSTINCT - The A.D.D. Trio Bellaphon, Germany LR 45104 1996 Robert Dick – flutes (flute, bass flutes in C and F, piccolo, contrabass flute) Christy Doran- electric guitar and delay devices Steve Argelles - drums The A.D.D. Trio plays originals by members Steve Argelles, Robert Dick and Christy Doran. Let me briefly state here that among the many thousands of albums I've heard in my life, covering virtually every known genre in the history of recorded music, I do not have to hesitate for a single millisecond in identifying one as the pinnacle of my personal music listening experience. That album is Instinct by the A.D.D. Trio. - Michael Anton Parker
Worlds of If (10)

WORLDS OF IF -- Robert Dick Solo Leo Records, England CD LR 224 1995 WORLDS OF IF was a great science fiction magazine from the 1950's and 60's. Inspired by his lifelong love of Science Fiction, Robert has created music that takes imaginative flight to inner and outer dimensions. ROBERT DICK SOLO and multitracked playing original works. Solo pieces: flute, alto fl, F-bass & piccolo. Overdubbed groups of flutes and voices. Duo with guest Ned Rothenberg. It takes only a few measures of hearing to realize we are on our way to a fantastic goal. – Disci Scelti, Italy
Digging It Harder From Afar (8)

DIGGING IT HARDER FROM AFAR - NEW WINDS: Robert Dick, flutes; JD Parran, clarinets; Ned Rothenberg, alto sax, shakuhachi Les Disques Victo, Canada cd 028 1994 New Winds performs original works by members Robert Dick, J.D. Parran and Ned Rothenberg Digging it harder from afar, we shall NOT mellow! -- Lord Buckley New Winds continued its intense and marvelous journey on the group's third CD.
Third Stone From the Sun (9)

THIRD STONE FROM THE SUN - Robert Dick and the Soldier String Quartet New World/CounterCurrents, U.S.A. #80435-2 1993 -- music by Jimi Hendrix and Robert Dick performed with the Soldier String Quartet plus Jerome Harris, guitar and bass; Jim Black, drums; Marty Ehrlich, bass clarinet and Shelley Hirsch, voice One of the most unexpected and imaginative jazz-centered Hendrix tributes! Not to be missed. -- Penguin Collection "Jazz on CD"
Steel and Bamboo (10)

STEEL and BAMBOO - Robert Dick and Steve Gorn (O.O. Discs, U.S.A. #12) 1993 Original music by the duo of Robert Dick and Steve Gorn, master of the Indian "bansuri" bamboo flute. Steve and I performed together often in the 80's and 90's and we developed our own musical language, powerfully influenced by North Indian music with the sonic freedom of electronic music and the spiritual freedom of two world citizens at play.
Tambastics (10)

TAMBASTICS -- Robert Dick, flutes; Denman Maroney, piano; Mark Dresser, bass; Gerry Hemingway, drums Music and Arts Programs of America, CD 704) 1992 Original works and improvisations by the ensemble TAMBASTICS Eight pieces composed and performed by Four Masters. - Downtown Music Gallery
Venturi Shadows (10)

VENTURI SHADOWS – Robert Dick solo and in Duos O.O.Discs, U.S.A. #7 1991 Three SOLOS by Robert Dick on flute and bass flute Four DUOS — Ned Rothenberg, shakuhachi; Steve Gorn, bansuri; Neil B. Rolnick, electronics and Mary Kay Fink, flute. It would be easy to argue that Robert Dick is the most important living 20th century flutist. — Downtown Music Gallery
Ladder 5 of Escape (10)

Ladder 5 of Escape Attacca Records, Netherlands #9158 - 1 1991 SOLO FLUTE: including four original pieces, "Flames Must Not Encircle Side", "Lookout", "Anamnesis" and "Flying Lessons, Volume II", and works by Berio, Fukushima, Debussy, McTee, Asia and Morris The use of multiphonics here is nothing short of amazing, as Dick plays six notes simultaneously, a veritable series of power chords on the instrument. In all this is one of Dick's strongest and most emotionally committed recordings. - All Music Guide
New Winds - Traction (9)

TRACTION -- out of print - can be custom uploaded for you Sound Aspects, Germany #044 1991 New Winds performs original works by members Robert Dick, J.D. Parran and Ned Rothenberg and Eric Dolphy Hat and Beard
New Winds - The Cliff (9)

THE CLIFF -- out of print - can be custom uploaded for you Sound Aspects, Germany #025 1989 New Winds performs original works by Robert Dick, J.D. Parran and Ned Rothenberg The Cliff is a masterpiece, first time of asking. - The Wire
The Other Flute (13)

THE OTHER FLUTE GM Recordings, U.S.A. #2013 - CD 1986 This is Robert's most famous solo recording. Includes the original works "Afterlight", "News?" and "Flying Lessons, Volume I" and pieces by Eric Dolphy, Edgard Varèse and Paganini/Dick Listen up, flutists. This is the flute of the future - your future! - Flute Talk Magazine
Whispers and Landings (1)
Whispers and Landings (Lumina Records, U.S.A., #007) 1981 -- solo program of original works. Available only on cassette. Robert’s first solo recording, originally on vinyl. Whispers and Landings is an instant investiture of Robert Dick as an important, forward looking flutist!
- Bill Shoemaker
Hear the original versions of Flames Must Not Encircle Sides; Piece in Gamelan Style; OR; Young Teeth; T Might Equal C to the Tenth; Glimpse from the Blimpse