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Ilgenfritz/Khoury/Michalowski/Weaver: Babardah
In the case of Babardah , a Michigan-based quartet consisting of reedman Piotr Michalowski, trombonist Sarah Weaver, violinist Mike Khoury and bassist James Ilgenfritz, this is a personal process. It isn't an assault on traditional sonorities that any regular listener of New Phonic Art, early Instant Composers Pool or Company recordings wouldn't be familiar with. The improvisations themselves, while not taking any great chances, are filled with contrast and depth: low blasts from baritone colliding with lithe violin scrabbles, or piercing string harmonics meet amplified breathing and guttural effects from Weaver's trombone. The musicians are all rather adept at creating a blurred stew of sounds, often from indeterminate sources and though moments of heady intensity do arise, the improvisations generally tend to the spare and moodyharmonics blend, chirps and burbles blur. Yet there is a hint of a different side to Babardah: long sonorous violin and trombone lines herald romanticism in "Rostador," giving way to a bass solo that would make Beb Guerin proud.
Whether or not Babardah 's contribution to improvisation is a valuable new direction is irrelevant. We only have a window onto these improvisations; future projects may help the open ear grasp the scope of their art, but suffice it to say that their personal engagement is worthy of the term "free music."
Track Listing
1. Peliczple; 2. Nyicnyac; 3. Rathi; 4. Krvilak; 5. Tauton; 6. Rostador; 7. Raparossi; 8. Giuggio; 9. Galumfuja;
Personnel
Piotr Michalowski; James Ilgenfritz; Mike Khoury; Sarah Weaver.
Album information
Title: Babardah | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: ABZU
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