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Anna Webber: Shimmer Wince
ByFor many years Webber's focus has straddled the worlds of composed and improvised music, jazz and chamber music, heard in small and large ensembles. Her instruments are featured in bands led by John Hollenbeck, Dan Weiss, Geof Bradfield, Dave Douglas, and Matt Mitchell. Most of those names also perform her compositions in Webber's Simple Trio, Large Ensemble, or Percussive Mechanics.
With this investigation of Just Intonation, she wrote music for particular resonating instruments and the specific quintet of trumpeter Adam O'Farrill, cellist Mariel Roberts, drummer Lesley Mok, and pianist Elias Stemeseder, who sticks to synthesizer here. Setting aside the technical and esoteric aspects of JI, Webber balances the music between composed and improvised, insuring the tunings never detract from the pleasure of sound. The droning "Swell" opens the disc with its instruments applying wave upon wave of tones and washes until Mok's pulse takes command and the brass flickers with on-off patterns. Webber has a knack for making the unconventional sound popular. Even the mechanical sounds of "Periodicity I" and "Periodicity II" coalesce into an unorthodox harmony. "Shimmer" overlays tones as the instruments build momentum, Roberts' cello quietly solos as do Mok and Stemeseder. As with the entirety of this recording, Webber and company make compelling music from the constraints of the JI parameters.
Track Listing
Swell, Wince; Fizz; Periodicity 1; Squirm; Periodicity 2; Shimmer.
Personnel
Anna Webber
composer / conductorAdam O'Farrill
trumpetMariel Roberts
celloElias Stemeseder
synthesizerLesley Mok
drumsAdditional Instrumentation
Anna Webber: tenor sax, flute, bass flute.
Album information
Title: Shimmer Wince | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Intakt Records
Comments
About Anna Webber
Instrument: Composer / conductor
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