Album Notes

TIN/BAG, the bi-coastal duo of California trumpeter Kris Tiner and New York guitarist Mike Baggetta deals with a music that is spare, ethereal, and highly exploratory, "clearly cut from cloth that hasn't been designed yet..." (–Improvijazzation Nation). Both are among a generation of young creative musicians who are contributing original new music and pushing a re-examination of the roles and possibilities of their instruments. Tiner and Baggetta have toured the United States presenting their original duo compositions and improvisations, having performed at CBGB's (NYC), The Luggage Store Gallery (San Francisco), Zeitgeist Gallery (Boston), Line Space Line (LA), Bowery Poetry Club (NYC), High Mayhem (Santa Fe) and Café Metropol (LA) among others. Their debut CD for pfMENTUM, There, Just As You Look For It, was met with enthusiastic reviews and continues to receive international airplay. TIN/BAG’s latest CD And Begin Again, recently released on Evander Music, finds the two reinterpreting the idea of the duo with several new compositions along with two extended works for quartet that feature virtuoso L.A. clarinetist Brian Walsh and rising jazz percussionist Harris Eisenstadt.

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"Careful listening is always evident as the two play off of each other, whether shadowing lines or counterbalancing densities and textures of the freely evolving pieces… What stands out is the tension the two create as they shape the improvisational forms with the juxtaposition of raw extended technique and resonating tones and hanging harmonics… the two maintain a taut, insightful approach to duet interaction."
– Michael Rosenstein, Cadence Magazine

“Tiner plays through a spectrum of tones and approaches, well matched by Baggetta’s inventive, wiry guitar inventions. Both embrace an aural adventurousness that leads the listener to unforeseeable soundscapes and ear dreams.”
– Rex Butters, All About Jazz Los Angeles

“Space is the canvas, timing is relative. The full timbre and resonance of tones suspend in time, then evaporate into the surrounding wake of sound. Evening is the mood and all is calm as these young lions of free music eloquently pursue the masters’ path."
– Justin Outlier, KFJC 89.7 FM, Los Altos Hills, CA

"There is a strong balance of written and free sections, intricately put together… both players are well matched, listening and responding quickly and creatively."
– Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery, New York

“Superb… clearly cut from cloth that hasn't been designed yet... I'm impressed, & any listener who is looking for something 'more' will agree with me when I declare it MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED listening."
– Rotcod Zzaj, Improvijazzation Nation

"Trumpeter Kris Tiner and guitarist Mike Baggetta interpret this set of original compositions with an ear toward meaningful conversation and an eye on balance. Baggetta's light, acoustic guitar spits and spurts with understated emotion, while Tiner's horns express a wide range of feelings… they grab hold of their music with an unbridled spirit."
– Jim Santella, All About Jazz

"This is a daring release merging Avantgarde Jazz with acoustic experimentation and influences from New Music, as well as other, more difficult to place, traits which contribute to endow this release with a great originality... The succesive sonic textures take us step by step into an unexplored terrain."
– Valeriano Guiol, Amazings.com