Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Grosse Abfahrt: Vanity
Grosse Abfahrt: Vanity
ByHaving eloquently outlined those issues in print, the ensemble's music presents solutions just as eloquent. The grouping here divides into a core of five players who are all familiar with each other's playing, plus three outside players who have not played with any of the core members. The outsiders, Matthieu Werchowski, David Chiesaboth from Franceand Theresa Wongfrom the Bay Areaare all string players, whereas the core mixes brass, reeds, electric guitar, and electronics.
Despite the contrasting instrumentations of the core and the outsiders, it never feels like there is competitionor combatbetween the two. Rather, they complement and interact with each other. At times the electronics seem to emulate the sounds of the strings, fitting in with them but creating a distorting-mirror effect. The playing of both the core and the strings together frequently creates prolonged drone passages, which are overlaid with short passages of solo playing that bubble up to the surface, linger awhile and then merge back into the ensemble. Overall, there is quietude about the music; it evolves at a gentle, unforced pace that fits naturally with the sounds of the instruments.
Somewhat atypical of the album as a whole is "Hang Bat5 Over," just featuring the duo of Werchowski and Chiesa, without the core. The two engage in a prolongedover ten minuteexchange of bowing that ebbs and flows between them with neither dominating. The bass and violin have sounds distinct enough to allow us to hear their individual lines, which weave in and around each other to good effect. It is one of those tracks that almost demands to be played again as soon as it is over, something that is equally true of the album as a whole. A good balance between fluency and comfort, with no hint of complacency.
Track Listing
Sportsman's Paradise Music LA; Mo Frippy; Hi L8R Bra; Hang Bat5 Over; CA Mirror; Cthlhu Kids First; Zoundz--Yours to Discover; May Cal Oknotok; Kablamo; Live Free or Die Delphi2.
Personnel
Tom Djll: trumpet, preparations and electronics; Matt Ingalls: clarinet and bass clarinet; Theresa Wong: violoncello; David Chiesa: double-bass; John Shiurba: electric guitar; Gino Robair: energized surfaces and voltage made audible; Tim Perkis: electronics.
Album information
Title: Vanity | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Emanem
< Previous
March 2010
Next >
March 2010