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DeBrunner / Silverman / Carter / Zlabinger: Macroscopia
ByThe disc starts with the "Opening," an introductory piece where Carter's muted trumpet, DeBrunner's heavy bassoon and Silverman's ethereal oud float
Silverman's Spanish-sounding guitar and Zlabinger's thumping bass set the rhythmic tone of "Mysterious Breath" a piece, characterized by the deeply mystical and brooding conversation between DeBrunner and Carter (on clarinet).
The jazzy guitar solo on "Dumbo Twilight" creates the mood that is enhanced by DeBrunner's soundwhich resembles an avant-garde baritone saxophoneand Carter's bluesy trumpet, all anchored by Zlabinger's pizzicato bass lines. The piece does meander a bit near its end, as the momentum slacks slightly. Repetitiveness also plagues the latter part of the otherwise intelligent tenor and bassoon duet, "Life Rattle," which features Silverman's percussion and guitar enhancing the dialogue, as well as the folk ballad-like "Totem Dance," which starts with Silverman's percussive oud work; the subsequent trumpet, tenor sax and bassoon improvisations are punctuated by the Arabian lute's mournful solo.
The two shorter tracks"Riff Tide" and "To Move As A Shadow"are dark and Cinematic, with bassoon, tenor sax (on the former), trumpet (on the latter), and guitar echo each other over Zlabinger's atmospheric repetitive vamps.
Despite occasionally flirting with monotony this is a thought-provoking work of powerful improvisation that draws on various influences to create a unique entity.
Track Listing
Opening; Mysterious Breath; Dumbo Twilight; Riff Tide; Life Rattle; To Move as a Shadow; Totem Dance.
Personnel
Claire DeBrunner: bassoon; Daniel Carter: trumpet, reeds; Ken Silverman: oud, guitar, percussion; Tom Zlabinger: bass.
Album information
Title: Macroscopia | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: Metier