Pago Libre: Wake Up Call - Live in Italy

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

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Published: January 1, 2000

With their 3rd and first “live” recording, the European band, “Pago Libre” shine once again, as they seemingly thrill the Italian audience on Wake Up Call - Live In Italy. Here, the Quartet serve up a freewheeling, enthusiastic and altogether multifarious set featuring memorably melodic compositions along with generous doses of furious improvisation.

This band swings remarkably hard as a drummer-less Quartet, which is evident from the opening moments of Tscho Theissing’s composition titled, “Wake Up Call”. On this piece, bassist Daniele Patumi implements a rapid walking bass line as cunning dialogue ensures between pianist John Wolf Brennan and violinist Tscho Theissing along with a soft and sonorous interlude provided by the always astounding french hornist, Arkady Shilkloper. These compositions are constructed around strong themes that often bridge the gap between classicism, free-improv and straight-ahead mainstream jazz. Shilkloper’s composition, “Synopsis” boasts gorgeous melodies and equally captivating soloing by the composer while Brennan’s “Kabak” commences with a virtuoso solo performance by violinist, Tscho Theissing who states and improvises the subsequent or ensuing underlying theme. The final piece, Shilkloper’s “Kobra” features highly charged jazzy riffs atop Patumi’s walking bass line, as these musicians turn up the heat while generating excitement and creating quite a bit of impact, especially for an all acoustic band. In summary, Wake Up Call is brimming with excitement, a dash or two of melodrama, and suspense while ultimately displaying their respective musical gifts for the audience in attendance and now, for the entire world to hear! Here, word association may suggest..........Stunning, Masterful, Illustrious and Articulate while displaying verve and class along the way! * * * * *

Personnel:

Tscho Theissing; Violin, Voice: Arkady Shilkloper; French Horn, Flugelhorn: John Wolf Brennan; Piano, Melodica: Daniele Patumi; Double Bass.

Leo Records: www.atlas.co.uk/leo records/

John wolf Brennan

Record Label: Leo Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream