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Tania Chen, Henry Kaiser, Wadada Leo Smith, William Winant: Ocean of Storms
Tacitly, Ocean of Storms has no leader. Pianist Tania Chen, guitarist Henry Kaiser, percussionist William Winant and Smith receive equal billing on this collection of five completely improvised recitals. The recording grew out of Smith's long relationship with Kaiser, one that begun 40 years previously with a Smith-composed guitar duet at the behest of Kaiser. A single day in Fantasy Studios, September 19, 2015 resulted in this hour-long exploration of the edge where music becomes thought. Five extended ruminations make up this recording. Each pits the broad-minded musicians against silence apace and one another. Smith divines every possible sound from his trumpet, whether muted or open bell. Kaiser coaxes an impressive array of tactile colors from his acoustic harp guitar. A brief conversation with Kaiser emphasized that, "it's all just 4 people playing live in a room." The pieces begin quiet and thoughtfully with "Bay of Honor" increasing with anxiety until the sonic Armageddon that is "Al-Kwarizimi." I am unsure that I would even call this music. I think it is what may come after music. Ocean of Storms is where "breathe becomes air" and the creative knife edge grows so sharp, electrons are liberated, folding in on themselves.
Track Listing
Bay of Honor; Sea of Crisis; Lake of Time; Montes Spitzbergen; Al-Kwarizimi
Personnel
Wadada Leo Smith
trumpetTania Chen: piano; Henry Kaiser: Guitar; Wadada Leo Smith: trumpet; William Winant: percussion.
Album information
Title: Ocean of Storms | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Self Produced
About Wadada Leo Smith
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