Wanders hails from Holland and was part of the 60's scene, playing tenor with von Schlippenbach and The Globe Unity Orchestra. This 5tet is playing energy music with a pair of roaring tenors. I can't tell Wanders from the other tenorist Andy Sugg, but they both have a Brotzmann like intensity. Which doesn't mean they can't play quiet, because they do, but it does mean they use silence sparingly and mainly for contrast with the hard blowing they do.

The Unit brings a strong sense of integrity to 'On the Edges of Silence'. The band are clearly not a bunch of youngsters imitating a 60's rant, this sounds like it could have been recorded in the Chicago scene of Ken Vandermark

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Diapason Magazine
Tom Sekowski, Poland.

ON THE EDGES OF SILENCE
THE KRIS WANDERS UNIT


There isn't very much that I could tell you about saxophonist Kris Wanders. Other than the fact that he resides in Australia and has played with pianist Kees Hazevoet back in the 70's, to me he remains an utter mystery. One of the keys to unravelling that mystery is his new release "On the Edges of Silence". Deceptively titled, this CD is very far from any sort of silence that I have come to know. The quintet that Kris Wanders has assembled breathes fire, fury and put in all their energy into the pot to come up with a release that takes the listeners for a whirlwind ride. Guitarist Tom Fryer plays a steady rhythm and makes some attempts at break speed experiments, while drummer Ted Vining tackles his drums with equal amounts of grace and fury. There isn't really much room to breathe when the wind duo of Wanders on tenor and Andy Sugg on soprano and tenor get into the game. Their attack is a dense concoction that is as exciting as it is furious and mad;.. Four compositions we get on this release are rather long, giving all players ample room to stretch out. Whether you classify this music as improv or a furious jazz cook-out, "On the Edges of Silence" will reward you with each new listen..

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Montana International Jazz Festival 2004
Wellington N.Z.

One of the most powerful tenor saxophonists to ever breathe air through the horn, Kris Wanders was at the birth of European Improvised Music in the 1960's. A member of the seminal Globe Unity Orchestra his collaborators of the time included Peter Brotzmann, Louis Moholo and Fred van Hove, Alexander von Schlippenbach .

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Half Bent Jazz Festival 2004
Melbourne, The Age:

And, if any reminder was needed of the sweeping creative scope encompassed by jazz and improvising artists, it was provided by the Kris Wanders Unit . Wanders' visceral set was an adrenalin-charged assault on the senses, with two tenor saxophones burning holes in the already firing rhythm section.

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Alt.Music.3 Happening
Silo Theatre, Auckland, N.Z.

Lastly we were treated to something completely different. Veteran Dutch Aussie free jazz sax player Kris Wanders, his Aussie sidekick, Andy Sugg on sax and a specially imported Wellington rhythm section who'd only all met a few hours before. (Tom Callwood bass and Rick Cranson drums) From first blast of pure adrenalised, whiteheat acoustic noise we all knew we were in for a good, good time. Horns rasped and belted, a concatenation of burred frequencies, clashing and embracing, storming the parapets of London Bar Jazz, joined by nanoclusters of unexpected notes from the double bass and the most explosive, propulsive, unrelenting drumming I've ever had the pleasure to hear. God knows how long it all went, we were all jaw-dropped hysterical at what these substantially acoustic objects were pushing at us. You shoulda heard the bass solo! You shoulda seen the bass solo!! They stopped briefly and they went into a second piece, totally unlike the first, more melodic but no less shattering, the drummer a sweaty mess, the second sax serene and calm, Kris all dark eyes and watchful intensity, belying the sonic storm created by his brass bell. I was forced to admit that pure musicianship, that much-scorned ability, won the day. And the two Wellingtonians were hopelessly young, generations removed from the horn vets. Brilliant! Blatt at its finest.
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Sima Journal: on Wangaratta Jazz Festival 2004


A list of the bands I did not see would be extensive and would in itself make an impressive festival program. Several musicians and fans said I was mad to have missed the fierce free jazz of The Kris Wanders Unit, with Dave Leibman as a spontaneous guest. I just bloody well forgot them. Let me recommend their disc On The Edges Of Silence