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Landon Knoblock / Jason Furman: Gasoline Rainbow
ByThe music on Gasoline Rainbow clearly comes from a duo with a close understanding of each other's playing styles and musical imaginations. The improvisations are full of ideas, flowing, never hesitant and often characterized by humor as well as by precision.
This is a musically democratic duo: Furman is just as likely to lead the way with his drums as Knoblock is with his piano. Indeed, in terms of the actual sound, it's Furman's drums that tend to predominatepowerful, incendiary, cascades of notes rip out from his kit on numerous occasions. Knoblock is a more considered player, fond of leaving spaces between his notes, more reflective. Of course, there are occasions when the opposite holds trueFurman is capable of restraint when the music calls for it, Knoblock can crank up the tempo and scatter his own flurries of notes when the need arises.
Knoblock and Furman do a nice line in titles too. "Decoy Trout" neatly sums up the racy, darting, slightly panic stricken rhythms on that tune. The title of "Snowball Earth" reflects the wintry, meditative atmosphere of this lengthy piece which features some exquisite drum patterns from Furman and some delicately spacious piano from Knoblock. "Tasty After Dinner Jazz Mint" is more misleading: rather than the smooth, relaxing sophistication that's offered by such a post-prandial treat the tune delivers a more combative experience, with Furman at his most hard-hitting and Knoblock working frantically in his instrument's lower register.
Whether the tunes or the titles come first isn't clearthere's no rule that says improvisations can't start with a titlebut it's good to see musicians who recognize the fun to be had matching the two. It's good, too, to hear musicians who are having fun with musical invention. Gasoline Rainbow is unpredictable, energetic, beautiful, loud, soft, subtle and surprising.
Track Listing
Sensors Make Heroes; Decoy Trout; Gasoline Rainbow; Snowball Earth; Twinkle, Twinkle Alien Ocean; Downbeasts I; Downbeasts II; Downbeasts III; Katie's Solar Explosion and Cosmic Aftermath; Love Goodnight; Tasty After Dinner Jazz Mint.
Personnel
Landon Knoblock
pianoLandon Knoblock: piano; Jason Furman: drums.
Album information
Title: Gasoline Rainbow | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Fractamodi.com