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Swirls
Zenekar
Label: 4000 Records
Released: 2026
Duration: 00:51:51
Views: 11
Tracks
Dark Waltz; Native Gardenia; Flat Five Jive; Swirls; Lament for a Holiday Tango; Hemiola; Byzantine; October Rain Dance; Dirge and Dance; After the Bell Tolls
Personnel
Zenekar
band / ensemble / orchestraDave Kemp
percussionJOHN REEVES
accordionSamuel Vincent
bass, acousticCatharina Kemp
clarinetAlbum Description
Swirls is the adventurous debut album from Zenekar – a collaboration between global music travellers Catharina Kemp (clarinet, bass clarinet, composition), John Reeves (button accordion), Samuel Vincent (double bass) and Dave Kemp (percussion, composition).
Recorded at Alchemix Studios (aka Bluey Music HQ!) with Marly Lüske at the controls, Swirls is a journey through ten compositions that run the gamut from African based rhythmic styles, through Eastern European harmonic systems, to free flowing jazz inspired improvisations.
‘Dark Waltz’ - With a nod to Hungarian composers like Bartok and Kodaly, Dave’s treatment of this classic three beat dance form takes on a more harmonically rich and dense sonority here. This definitely isn’t Andre Rieu style waltzing!
‘Native Gardenia’ - A work by Catharina reminiscent of folkloric Cuban music like the Contradanza and Habanera. With a stately rhythmic flow that highlights the natural lyricism of the clarinet and accordion, there is a beautiful quasi-classical finale.
‘Flat Five Jive’ - Thriving on a riff first setup by Samuel on the Double Bass, this tune motors along with tight ensemble hits and drum breaks. It’s Dave’s attempt to partner the frenetic energy of Bebop style improvisation and 50’s rock grooving, with a definite turn towards 90’s drum-n-bass territory on occasion.
‘Swirls’ - A piece by Dave that attempts to conjure up the feeling of disorientation when sounds move all around you. However, floating above you is a melody on the clarinet showing you the way through the dizzying atmosphere.
‘Lament for a Holiday Tango’ - Argentinian tango music has been an interest of Dave’s for years and can have such a nostalgic and mournful quality to it. Composed during the period of restricted travel.
‘Hemiola’ - Named after the musical device of pitting 2 beats against 3 at the same time which is a foundation to many traditional African rhythms. Dave stretches this idea to reshape it into a complex and ever changing musical statement, but still keeping it grooving!
‘Byzantine’ - Co-composed by Catharina and Dave, this is a piece that fittingly uses the ancient Byzantine melodic shape and a shifting beats cycle suggestive of Turkish Usul rhythmic systems.
‘October Rain Dance’ - A cheeky clarinet melody over a Brazilian style chord vamp appeared to Dave one very rainy October day. Out of gloominess came this uplifting little ditty.
‘Dirge and Dance’ - Inspired by Dave’s experience with the legendary Doch Gypsy Orchestra, this track explores the funeral and dance marching band sounds reminiscent of Romania and the Balkans.
‘After the Bell Tolls’ - A Cuban style rhythmic romp over a classic blues chord progression to bring the album to a foot stomping close. Dave also works as a music teacher so read into this title what you will!
Album uploaded by John Russell
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About Zenekar
Instrument: Band / ensemble / orchestra
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