Home » Jazz Articles » Multiple Reviews » One first-timer to Another Timbre, one second timer
One first-timer to Another Timbre, one second timer
James Opstad Drift
Another Timbre
2025
Although James Opstad first recorded on double bass at Eastcote Studios, London, in September 2006, on an album entitled Interpretations (New Canvas Records, 2006) credited to a drummer named Jon Opstad, James Opstad did not release an album under his own name until Drift (Another Timbre, 2025). In the intervening years, the bassist had played or recorded with Apartment House -for instance, he played on the title track of O, Zomer (Another Timbre, 2018) by Cassandra Miller—with saxophonist Joe Wright in the duo called duck-rabbit, and in the quartet Jack Davies' Flea Circus.
On Drift, which was recorded by Simon Reynell in London and Birmingham from 2020 to 2024, a selection of musicians played five Opstad compositions, ranging in duration from 3'30" to 22'36," 56' 26" altogether; his chosen musicians were GBSR—the duo of Siwan Rhys on piano and George Barton on vibraphone or temple blocks—on two tracks, four musicians from Apartment House-two violins, one viola, one cello-on two tracks, and two tracks featuring clarinetist Heather Roche, one of which was with GBSR. The musicians were perfectly chosen for the music, and the mixing and matching of them to the compositions cannot be faulted. James Opstad can be proud of producing such a debut album. We can be hopeful that he produces more.
Marc Sabat Bach Tunings
Another Timbre
2025
Marc Sabat is a Canadian composer who was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in September 1965. He went to the University of Toronto, where he studied violin, composition and mathematics, completing a BA in 1986. He followed this with a Master's at the Juilliard School in New York and then two years of string quartet playing in Banff and St. John's Newfoundland. He has been based in Berlin, Germany, since 1999. Despite that, in 2017, as part of Another Timbres' Canadian Composers Series, Sabat's album Harmony was released on the label alongside Linda Catlin Smith, Cassandra Miller and the like.
Sabat is a pioneer of instrumental music written and performed in Just Intonation (JI) and one of a few composers who compose for larger forces with these sounds. Together with colleagues Catherine Lamb, Rebecca Lane and Thomas Nicholson, Sabat is a founding member of the Berlin-based JI collective Harmonic Space Orchestra. All of this is relevant here as Sabat's second Another Timbre album, Bach Tunings comprises a Just Intonation version of Bach's original played by two violinists. Doubtless, there will be some listeners who prefer to listen to Bach's original, and others who favour Sabat's one. The world would be a dull place if we all liked and enjoyed the same things, eh? Listen below and decide for yourself.
Tracks and Personnel
DriftTracks: Nymphaea (2020; Study 2 (2019); Eluvium (2018); Study 1 (2019); Drift (2021/24.
Personnel: GBSR duo -Siwan Rhys, piano (1, 5), George Barton, vibraphone (1), temple blocks (5); Apartment House-Mira Benjamin, violin (2, 4)); Gordon Mackay, violin (2, 4); Bridget Carey, viola 92, 4); Anton Lukoszevieze, cello (2, 4); Heather Roche, clarinet (3, 5).
Bach Tunings
Tracks: 1) Streams bareli in winter 1 -Cold. 2)-5) Sei Bach-Intonazioni la: Sonata Prima Adagio-Fuga: Alegro-Siciliana-Presto. 6) Steams barely in winter 2 -Sun. 7)-10) Sei Bach-Bach-Intonazioni Ila:Sonate Seconda Grave-Fuga-Andante-Allegro. 11) Streams barely in winter 3 -Stones. 12)-15) Sei Bach-IntonazioniIlla: Sonata Terza Adagio—Fuga Largo Allegro asai.
Personnel: Sara Cubarsi & Xenia Gocu, violins.
Tags
PREVIOUS / NEXT
Support All About Jazz
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
