Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Vattel Cherry's Bassresp: Bassresp
Vattel Cherry's Bassresp: Bassresp
ByTwo serious problems disable Bassrespänse. First, the quartet has serious problems playing in tune. One can speak all one wants about microtonal experimentation, but it's clear that plenty of notes on this disc (especially in the treble) are entirely relative. When players come together to assert unison, they frequently fail to achieve the effect. And when they pursue harmonic statements, the listener often has to round notes up or down to make the ideas work. (Certain players on the left channel, to remain unnamed, cause special problems in this regard.) The second shortfall of Bassrespänse is the entirely elastic rhythm of the group. No one's going to judge an avant bass quartet with a metronome, but time disintegrates into shreds here. With all the exciting raw possibilities for polyrhythm, swing, and pulse, one might expect the four bassists in Bassrespänse to occasionally engage in some creative rhythmic interplay. Unfortunately this doesn't happen.
Listeners with a better-developed taste for music played out of tune (and a higher tolerance for wandering rhythms) may find this disc a treat. It certainly has a lot to offer in terms of experimental textures, extended techniques, and unusual stylistic juxtapositions.
Track Listing
Lisofall; Waltz for Four Basses; Ready Set Go; Louis Devareaux; 99 Shorescapes; Llano Quemado; Baltimore Weather; Z.C.P.
Personnel
Vattel Cherry
bassBassresp
Album information
Title: Bassrespense | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Owl Records
Tags
Comments
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
