Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Fred Lonberg-Holm / Nick Stephens: Crackle: Six improvis...

7

Fred Lonberg-Holm / Nick Stephens: Crackle: Six improvisations for Cello and Double Bass

By

Sign in to view read count
Fred Lonberg-Holm / Nick Stephens: Crackle: Six improvisations for Cello and Double Bass
These improvisations between Chicago's ubiquitous cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm and veteran British double bassist Nick Stephens, known for ongoing collaborations with Norwegian reed master Frode Gjerstad and South-African drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo, were recorded in 2011 in Stephens' home-town, Northwood.

The duo immediately establish a common language that encompasses organic elements of fiery free jazz, through exploration of extended bowing techniques or often simple, straight- forward and lyrical, chamber playing. The two juggle between these shifting elements, to form searching, restless dynamics and and multi-layered textures.

The fourth, 15-minute long improvisation enables Lonberg-Holm and Stephens to explore their shared, searching spirit and the resulting supportive interplay even deeper. Both cover a continuum of sounds. Elegant, poetic bowing, nuanced investigation of the deep and resonant timbral spectrum of the cello and double bass, percussive use of the bows and a changing pulse comprise the spare overtones. The pair perform with great focus, and an impressive command of their instruments, welcoming any sound and any dynamic, whether tough, nervous or gentle and caressing.

An impressive meeting of like-minded improvisers.

Track Listing

Crackle one; Carackle Two; Crackle Three; Crackle Four; Crackle Five; Crackle Six.

Personnel

Fred Lonberg-Holm: cello; Nick Stephens: double bass.

Album information

Title: Crackle: Six improvisations for Cello and Double Bass | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Loose Torque

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.