Fantastic Merlins: The Eclectic Jazz Innovators

The Fantastic Merlins are an American avant-garde jazz ensemble known for their genre-blurring chamber music aesthetic. Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the group built a dedicated following through their critically acclaimed 2008 album "A Handful of Earth" and their consistent, exploratory output on the indie label Innova Recordings.

Early career

The Fantastic Merlins formed in the early 2000s, coalescing from the vibrant Minneapolis experimental music scene. The core trio featured Nathan Hanson on saxophones, Brian Roessler on bass, and cellist Jacqueline Ultan, creating an unusual and texturally rich instrumental foundation.

Their self-titled debut album was released in 2005, establishing their signature sound which wove together jazz improvisation, classical structures, and folk-inspired melodies. This early work caught the attention of the American Composers Forum's Innova Recordings, which would become their long-term label home.

Breakthrough

The group's breakthrough to wider critical recognition arrived with their sophomore release, 2008's "A Handful of Earth". The album was praised for its mature integration of composition and free play, receiving extensive airplay on college and public radio jazz programs across the United States.

While not a charting commercial release, "A Handful of Earth" solidified the Fantastic Merlins' reputation as serious innovators within the modern jazz and new music spheres. Their association with Innova Recordings provided a platform for their subsequent albums, including "Look Around" in 2010.

Key tracks

A Handful of Earth — The title track from their breakthrough album showcases their masterful blend of melancholic cello lines with exploratory saxophone.

Nod — This composition highlights the trio's deep conversational interplay and rhythmic subtlety, a live favorite.

Cadence — A track exemplifying their structured yet spontaneous approach, built around a compelling, repeating bass and cello figure.

Look Around — From their 2010 album, this piece demonstrates their evolving sound, incorporating more spacious and atmospheric elements.

The Fantastic Merlins continued to perform and record throughout the 2010s, maintaining their core trio while occasionally collaborating with other instrumentalists. Their music remained a staple on public radio shows dedicated to contemporary jazz and avant-garde composition, celebrated for its intellectual depth and emotional resonance.

Listeners who appreciate the Fantastic Merlins' chamber jazz explorations often enjoy the work of The Bad Plus for their similar deconstruction of jazz tradition. The intricate ensemble work of Turtle Island Quartet shares their classical-jazz fusion approach. For another innovative trio format, explore Medeski Martin and Wood and their groove-oriented improvisations.

The music of the Fantastic Merlins is featured in the rotation of specialty jazz and new music radio stations, particularly those focusing on avant-garde and composer-led projects. Their albums receive regular plays on independent music radio stations and online radio streams dedicated to cutting-edge acoustic music.

You can hear the inventive jazz of the Fantastic Merlins on radio stations featured on our website. Discover their unique catalog by tuning into the eclectic radio stations available on onairium.com.