Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Klare / Platz / Kneer / Elgart: Modern Primitive

3

Klare / Platz / Kneer / Elgart: Modern Primitive

By

Sign in to view read count
Klare / Platz / Kneer / Elgart: Modern Primitive
Steeped in various aspects of jazz tradition as much as it is on the cutting edge, the sonic territory covered by Modern Primitive is vast, to say the least. The music here, all freely improvised, has a warmth and immediacy that comes from intense, shared listening. Though there are no tunes or changes per se, that each player has an extensive background in modern jazz and other non- improvised music is quite evident. Historically, this is something that a lot of free improvising musicians try to hide. Instead, this quartet uses its "inside" musical chops to its advantage, producing a truly cohesive collective sound that moves from sweet melancholy to the brink of total chaos and back in the blink of an eye.

Drummer Bill Elgart is probably the best known name here. The American expat is best known for his collaborations with pianist Paul Bley, vibraphonist Karl Berger, and saxophonist Lee Konitz, to name a few. His innate sense of swing and tendency towards restraint in the face of heated exchanges between the other players is critical throughout Modern Primitive, particularly on "Meat Dress" and "Puppet Party."

Elgart has also worked extensively with bassist Meinrad Kneer, which is evident in their deeply connected playing throughout. Kneer is a highly responsive player, anchoring the music with muscular boppish lines ("Beekeeper's Song," "Meat Dress") or wailing away, horn-like, in the upper registers ("Blank Mask," "Can You Hear The Rain?").

Highly impressive is the work of veteran electric guitarist Jeff Platz, another American expat who's worked with multi-instrumentalists Daniel Carter and Joe Morris, and saxophonist Jim Hobbs. Like Elgart, Platz is an unpredictable, mercurial player whose sound, while rooted in the jazz tradition, can go anywhere at any time. His slide guitar work on "A Gently Sloping Knoll" is a welcome, whimsical surprise. Platz tantalizes further on "Impish Episode" where he whips a fuzzbox out of the musical ether. Multi-reed man Jan Klare, a frequent associate of Platz, has a pleasantly throaty, somewhat Ornette Coleman-like sound on alto. His clarinet playing is mobile and authoritative, bringing John Carter to mind.

Modern Primitive lives up to its name in the best possible way, combining instant music-making with beguiling craftsmanship in a variety of forward-looking contexts.

Track Listing

Beekeepers Song; Can You Hear The Rain?; Meat Dress; A Gently Sloping Knoll; Blank Mask; Grain by Grain; Puppet Party; Impish Episode; Mutual Agreement.

Personnel

Jan Klare: alto saxophone, clarinet, flute; Jeff Platz: guitar; Meinrad Kneer: double bass; Bill Elgart: drums.

Album information

Title: Modern Primitive | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Evil Rabbit Records

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

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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