davechisholm

www.forewordreviews.com/review…
"The black-and-white artwork in *Instrumental *is dynamic and inventive, perfectly illustrating both the transcendence of music, and Tom’s struggle as he falls under the influence of the trumpet and everything it represents. Instrumental is recommended for any reader, but perhaps most for those who have a love for music. "

nextbop.com/blog/davechisholmi…
"Dave Chisholm spent years putting this book together, and likely spent about as much time on the accompanying music. It is the culmination, for both these important forms of expression, of the labor of a man who has so much to say and so many means of saying it, and in these various means, he manages to say it all particularly well. To say a musician has range implies an ability to play the quiet and loud, the big and small, the fast and slow, the multitude of genres and tones, perhaps with adaptability with various players. To say a visual artist has range notes fluency in assorted media, an understanding of history while making insightful statements about the present and the future, and perhaps the ability to hold to deadlines. To say an artist of both these sorts has range may be the grander claim, for the ability to make such clear, compelling statements in such different forms is something to marvel. In all aspects of Instrumental, Dave Chisholm proves himself to be that kind of artist with that kind of marvelous range."

www.popmatters.com/review/inst…

"As an artist, Chisholm’s style adheres to a decidedly modern look and feel, calling to mind the overall aesthetic look and feeling of Charles Burns’ disconcerting Black Hole while still maintaining a strongly individualistic look and feel perfectly complemented by the accompanying music. Taken as a whole, Instrumental and the world it inhabits is well worth an extended visit. Chisholm’s numerous creative panel structures and use of multi-genre storytelling making for a highly enjoyable reading experience. 8/10 stars"

reviews.libraryjournal.com/201…

"Reflective of jazz itself, Chisholm’s panels of art and text move with feeling and tempo, in places unafraid to riff. The depiction of Tom’s gradual wasting away is particularly well illustrated, as are some “face melting” music sessions."

anonmagazine.com/creation-stor…

"What is apparent mostly from Instrumental is that this book and album seem to be a labor of love. What is so wonderful to see is this person, Dave Chisholm, who is in- between two worlds- comics and music- make a project that encompasses both. It is incredibly rewarding and awe-inspiring to see these worlds be meshed and compliment one another. Instrumental is a phenomenal work from a powerhouse of a talent who deserves all of the credit in not just one medium, but two."

www.bigshinyrobot.com/59990/in…
"Bringing a virtuosic command of the language of graphic novels, Chisholm provides a story that is both touching with a strong sense of the inevitable woven amidst the fantastic."

www.rochestercitynewspaper.com…
"Through thoroughly engaging storytelling and enthralling illustrations, the book blends a fantastical adventure into ordinary creative lives and offers philosophy about the balance of talent, ambition, and power."

www.kirkusreviews.com/book-rev…
"Chisholm’s sumptuous art has the fluidity and chiaroscuro of Paul Pope’s work, though with a more cartoonish tinge. Strategically ambitious paneling underscores otherworldly elements."

www.publishersweekly.com/978-1…
"Creator Chisholm is a jazz musician himself, and this Gaiman-like fantasy about the blurred line between art and magic is solidified by an underlying sense of lived reality; the characters inhabit a real world of burned-out speakers, coffee-shop gigs, and day jobs. "

www.jazzrochester.com/2017/05/…
"I consumed Instrumental in a couple of hours on a Saturday afternoon and the experience was new and compelling. The story is dark, the images full of motion, becoming dream-like as Tom plays the horn and his playing becomes more like what he's hearing in his head, the crowds come out to hear. "

icv2.com/print/article/37143
"Think of this story as the anti-La La Land, a darker and grimmer version of the obsessions of a jazz musician."

www.allaboutjazz.com/instrumen…
"Chisholm makes a striking impression as trumpeter and composer with Instrumental, aided by a sympathetic band. It's a memorable contemporary jazz album taken by itself, made even more memorable in combination with his graphic novel. I listened to the music before reading the comic, but have to confess that it's now hard to remember the album without reference to the visuals. "

Podcast interview: comicsalternative.com/comics-a…
"Dave’s background — a professional trumpet player, songwriter, composer, bandleader, and educator — becomes the wellspring from which he pulls his narrative, so much of his conversation with Derek is devoted to the power of music and its translation into visual form."

www.multiversitycomics.com/pod…
"Dave Chisholm may not have been in the comics industry long enough to achieve the ‘rock star’ status of someone like Jim Lee or Paul Pope, but in terms of creating both comics AND music, he’s a band apart from just about every other creator out there. "

Here's another podcast interview about process: comicsmanifest.com/davechishol…