Home » Jazz Articles » Multiple Reviews » Han Bennink: Amplified Trio and People I Like

487

Han Bennink: Amplified Trio and People I Like

By

Sign in to view read count








Han Bennink
Amplified Trio
Treader
2007


The Blueprint Project
People I Like
Improvised Communications
2007


Han Bennink's virtuosic drumming and irresistible joviality are in high demand. While visiting the UK in 2006, the Dutch percussionist was invited to record with John Coxon (electric guitar) and Ashley Wales (electronics/samples), the duo collectively known as Spring Heel Jack. The result, Amplified Trio, is an austere and effortless improv session. The Blueprint Project, a trio of recent conservatory grads, has also released an album with Bennink as guest. People I Like is more lighthearted, conscious, premeditated.

In Amplified Trio, Bennink brings a jazz sensibility to Coxon and Wales' electronic musings. As Wales' ambient sounds writhe in time with Coxon's guitar, Bennink's drum kit undulates from low to high, soft to loud, slow to fast, crouching to pouncing. "AT 1" is a revelatory assault to the ears with its wailing electronic manipulations, abrasive guitar strokes and ferocious drumbeats. The 20-minute track is so expansive that if it were the only song on the disc, listeners would still be satisfied. The other tracks demonstrate the musicians' scope, skill and imagination. "AT 4" is calmer than the first track but just as insightful. Occasional clangs of the cymbals and burbling guitar notes drift among Wales' abstract vocal samples and chaotic electro-strokes, creating vast silences that evoke a sense of intense introspection and unbridled creativity.

Unlike Amplified Trio, which unleashes its creativity in a flurry of instant compositions, The Blueprint Project channels its creative juices into carefully written tunes. A seemingly more rigid setup, the pre-formed songs put Bennink in his element of inimitable performance art. Reedist Jared Sims, guitarist Eric Hofbauer and pianist Tyson Rogers each composed three new pieces for this CD. People I Like is well-composed, well-performed, well-packaged—it is an all-around impeccable jazz record. Tunes like "Herbie Nichols" and "Jac-Mac Talkin'" seem to be written specifically for Bennink. The former features Rogers' sprightly piano, Sims' soulful clarinet and Bennink's swinging lines while the latter showcases Bennink's brush technique. From the playful joie de vivre of "The Holly Stomp" to the eerie meditation of "Chillfreetmeistrodemus," it is clear that the trio was truly inspired by its guest drummer.

Though starkly different, both records demonstrate why Bennink is so sought-after: his ineffable charisma and brilliant drumming heighten all those around him.


Tracks and Personnel

Amplified Trio

Tracks: AT 1, AT 2, AT 3, AT 4, AT 5, AT 6, AT 7.

Personnel: Han Bennink: drums; John Coxon: electric guitar; Ashley Wales: electronics/samples.

People I Like

Tracks: The Holly Stomp; Herbie Nichols; The Flu And Dr. B; Captain Salvy Set Sail; Ruby, I Think You're My Third Favorite; Bessie, With Angles; Chillfreetmeistrodemus; Jac-Mac Talkin'; Nu Noon At Yoshi's.

Personnel: Jared Sims: clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Eric Hofbauer: guitar; Tyson Rogers: piano; Han Bennink: drums.

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.
View events near New York City
Jazz Near New York City
Events Guide | Venue Guide | Local Businesses | More...

More

What Was Happening
Bobby Wellins Quartet
Laugh Ash
Ches Smith
A New Beat
Ulysses Owens, Jr. and Generation Y

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.