Transatlantic Five: Transitions

There is an expression in meditation for when an individual is concentrating on their breath, "it's a simple practice, but not easy." A similar statement might be made about Transitions by the Transatlantic Five. The music is not simple, but it is easy. Easy, at least for this quintet.

The American duo of Ken Vandermark (tenor saxophone, clarinet) and trumpeter Nate Wooley crossed an ocean (thus the name) to perform and record with the German trio of vibraphonist Christopher Dell, double bassist Christian Ramond, and drummer Klaus Kugel. The three Europeans have previously collaborated with Theo Jorgensmann and Sabir Mateen. Dell can also be heard with Christian Lillinger and Jonas Westergaard. Ramond and Kugel released the self-titled Yamabiko Quintet (Nemu Records, 2023) with Frank Paul Schubert, Michel Pilz, and Reiner Winterschladen.

The quintet takes its impulse from Eric Dolphy's 1964 recording Out To Lunch! (Blue Note), as is quite apparent with the opener "Around Town" written by Dell. It is one of two composed pieces, Vandermark's "En Attente" being the other. Dell's "Around Town" parallels that Dolphy recording, which included Bobby Hutcherson, Freddie Hubbard, Richard Davis, and Tony Williams. From this point of departure, the quintet accelerates by a factor of sixty years with the six freely improvised "Transitions."

The easy complexity comes from the quintet's ability to navigate in a totally free environment yet create complete and compelling music. Dell, Ramond, and Kugel are confident collaborators with the unique voicings of the Americans. Wooley's unique trumpet language and Vandermark's mastery of clarinet and saxophone fit hand-in-glove with the German trio. Dell's vibraphone can be traded off with another musician or create atmospheres supportive of the creative spark. The same is true of Ramond and Kugel who are excellent at musical dialogues. Sixty years after Dolphy, the marriage of free jazz in a coherent chamber setting has been achieved.