Warthogs by Max Devereaux - Dave Rothenmaier - Jason Wietlispach
OUI053: Max Devereaux - Dave Rothenmaier - Jason Wietlispach / Warthogs
Max Devereaux has never met Jason Wietlispach or Dave Rothenmaier, and he’s not even sure how Wietlispach ended up on his Facebook friends list. But when Wietlispach posted a selection of his favorite LPs,
those posts appeared in Devereaux’s feed, sparking an instant
connection over their shared musical tastes. That moment ultimately
led to the creation of Warthogs.
Once the possibility of remote collaboration was established,
Wietlispach set up in his Wisconsin-based home studio, working
alongside Rothenmaier. Together, they recorded five improvisations
with Rothenmaier on drums and Wietlispach on saxophone and vibes. The files were then sent to Devereaux in California, who quickly added his guitar improvisations. Within two days, the record was nearly
complete.
For Devereaux, the mixing process was all about creating a cohesive
sonic space where each instrument could shine. The goal was to make it sound as though everything had been recorded in the same room, while still preserving the distinct power and focus of each instrument.
When it came time to find a label, Devereaux knew exactly who he
wanted. He reached out to Off—record label, who, after hearing the
second round of masters (the first were rejected by both Devereaux and
Wietlispach), enthusiastically agreed to support the project.
Though Devereaux has never met Rothenmaier or Wietlispach in person, they share a common bond—they’ve all, at one point or another, called the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area home. This shared experience has fostered a unique understanding, one that translates beautifully into their collaboration, even with the physical distance between them. You can hear it clearly on the record.
What gives Warthogs its distinct sound is the unique blend of
performances. Rothenmaier remains cool and collected throughout, never losing control, and keeping the entire ensemble moving forward.
Wietlispach weaves in and out, decorating the corners and edges of the
tracks, almost serving as a narrator, commenting on the sections.
Devereaux, on the other hand, is completely untamed, his flurry of
textures and activity rarely taking a breath, even in the quieter
moments.
Together, the trio strikes a unique balance that mirrors the unprecedented era the world finds itself in. In these uncertain times,
we must turn to equally unconventional forms of music to express our
thoughts, fears, anger, and sadness.
________________________________
Max Devereaux is an artist, musician, and filmmaker from Milwaukee,
WI. He has been very active in the arts for around 15 years. He is
currently based in Southern California.
Dave Rothenmaier is from Racine, WI. His family will attest he's been
banging on stuff since he was “this tall”; he's been active in various
Milwaukee music circles for 20 years or so.
Jason Wietlispach is an improvising musician, artist, classical radio
DJ, and recording engineer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He has been
playing and recording music for over 35 years in Chicago and
Wisconsin.
Tracklist
| 1. | ارتجال | 5:50 |
| 2. | hoʻopono | 6:34 |
| 3. | doğaçlama | 6:24 |
| 4. | ইম্প্রোভাইজেশন | 10:19 |
| 5. | sự ngẫu hứng | 10:52 |
Credits
Produced by Max Devereaux, Dave Rothenmaier and Jason Wietlispach
Mixed by Max Devereaux
Album cover by Max Devereaux
Electric guitar - Max Devereaux
Drums - Dave Rothenmaier
Saxophone, Vibes - Jason Wietlispach
Recorded in Wisconsin and California, USA
