Dine Doneff: In/Out

Composer and bassist Dine Doneff's In/Out is a one-man show and a type of improvisation that seems mystical. Dubbed as a soundscape theatre for double bass and soundscapes, it is full-blown, free-flowing, and intensely narrative, an arc that is established by Doneff's interaction with samples and pre-recorded materials all performed live.

Doneff is a skilled bassist with an extensive background in various improv, jazz, and cross-cultural world music bands. With a current residence in Munich, Germany, he founded a record label neRED that is assisted and distributed by the legendary ECM label. In/Out is this label's sophomore release.

Once upon a time, when he resided in Thessaloniki, Greece, in the period between 2007 and 2015, Doneff did live improv sessions at a local underground theatre with a variety of players. He recorded these sessions, and In/Out echoes those early efforts.

Doneff is chameleonic on his instruments and is able to squeeze all kinds of unusual sounds out of them. The resulting pieces are cinematic and theatrical. The sound sourcing is interesting as are the unusual found sounds that serve as a backbone. The improvisations were recorded in various cities and locations in Europe and present a sort of continuous inner dialogue. These sounds were meshed with other sounds of various instruments in order to create tapestries. Each piece has a distinct feel and character, and Doneff uses these tapestries and soundscapes to play his bass improvisations over.

Doneff has a grasp of several contemporary idioms and a willingness to explore them. Slowly and methodically, he is thickening out the sound. He uses abrasive sounds, unpleasant harmonies and often even more harsh improvisations in order to expand upon what the ear can handle. As such, this music is closer to composers La Monte Young and Terry Reily or guitarist Derek Bailey than free jazz.