Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » The Ullmann/Swell 4: News? No News!
The Ullmann/Swell 4: News? No News!
BySwell, Ullmann, bassist Hilliard Greene and percussionist, Barry Altschul bring a certain eternity to the music on this album, especially on collectively improvised pieces such as "GPS #1" and "GPS #2," both of which propel the musicians into a stratospheric space, where they seem to exist and perform in a rarefied state of mind. Ullmann is often puckish, here as is Greenewho gains complete control of the upper register of his bass violinwhile Swell plays emotional counterpoint, with grave densely colored clusters of sound and silence. The vigorous fist-pump or high five of "More Hello" echoes in sharp contrast to the ponderous bellowing and seeming skull drudgery of "News? No News!" However, the latter chart survives the vagaries of eternal damnation because it is swathed in irony, brilliantly sounded in Ullmann's bass clarinet, which makes great leaps and bounds all over the chart. Stylistically, Ullmann appears to pay homage to Eric Dolphy, both rhythmically and harmonically as well.
Steve Swell plays a willing, emotionally explosive partner in the whole expedition, joining Ullmann right up front. The trombonist surely subscribes to the school that was inadvertently founded when Roswell Rudd hit the ground, wielding his trombone like a primordial shaman, splattering and growling, making human speech-like pronouncements with harmonic integrity. Swell is sharp and observant and brings a rich palette of colors to the sonic canvas. His staccato punches weave and cut through the air like the punches of an expert pugilist. His tone is dry, yet, magically his bronzed coloring remains wet and drips gracefully onto the chart, spreading its warm glow and cheeriness as he dances interminably. His conversations with Ullmann on "Berlin 9:35" are characteristic.
Of course, none of the energy and verve would have been sustained quite as it has been, without the sonority of Greene's bass. It dances in mad circles with the breathtaking energy of Altschul's colorful percussion. The rhythmic intensity of the duo, and its absolute empathy with the woodwinds and reeds, is spectacularly showcased throughout. There are completely free pieces, where the bassist and drummer play in and all around the changing pulse. And then there is the hypnotically swinging "Airtight," where the musicians seems of one mindbass and drums crowning the well-earned majesty of this music with both sound and silence.
Track Listing
More Hello; New York 5:50; Composite #1; Kleine Figuren #2; Planet Hopping on a Thursday Afternoon; GPS #1; News? No News!; GPS #2; Berlin 9:35; Airtight.
Personnel
Gebhard Ullmann: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Steve Swell: trombone; Hilliard Greene: double bass; Barry Altschul: drums.
Album information
Title: News? No News! | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Jazzwerkstatt Berlin-brandenburg E.v.
< Previous
Korean Music Shines At Performing Art...
Next >
Take Five With David Bixler