Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Pago Libre: Wake Up Call: Live in Italy

Pago Libre: Wake Up Call: Live in Italy

Item: Wake Up Call: Live in Italy
Rating: 0
Author: Robert Spencer

By Robert Spencer
November 1, 1999
View read count

Pago Libre is a highly accomplished quartet consisting of the master pianist John Wolf Brennan with Arkady Shilkloper (french horn, flugelhorn), Tscho Theissing (violin, voice), and Daniele Patumi (double bass). As may be expected from the instrumentation, there is a good bit of classicism in the sound of this group. Take "Toccattacca," for example. Although Brennan thanks Olivier Messiaen for the derivation of one chord (perhaps with a nod toward reviewers who see influences behind every green tree), this sprawling track seems in its turbulent nobility more to recall Igor Stravinsky. There is in general here a muted exuberance, dark-edged due to Shilkloper's instruments; every track, meanwhile, is marked by the stunning virtuosity of each of the players, and by their stunning ability to complement one another's explorations.

Shilkloper takes a grand french horn solo on "Wake Up Call," on which Brennan is likewise magnificent: percussive, shimmering, skittering, and glowing. "Tupti-Kulai" is built on an up-and-down stairway figure from Brennan which, after some chirping from Shilkloper, becomes a practically Jarretian figure - only richer, chiefly courtesy Theissing's string work.

The string men have their showcase on "African Blossom," a remarkable percussive track for a quartet with no percussionist. But chalk it up to this group's imagination. Throughout, this disc is a bravura example of improvisation of a high order. Heartily recommended.

FOLLOW Robert Spencer and get notified whenever a new article published.
Bob likes his jazz both inside and out.

Personnel

Pago Libre

Tscho Theissing, vln, voc; Arkady Shilkloper, fr hn, flghn; John Wolf Brennan, p, melodica; Daniele Patumi, b.

Track listing: Wake Up Call / Tupti-Kulai / African Blossom / Toccattacca / Folk Song / Synopsis / Kabak / Kobra.

Album information

Title: Wake Up Call: Live in Italy | Year Released: 1999 | Record Label: Leo Records

About Pago Libre

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Essential Michael Brecker
< Previous

Steve Lacy with Irene Aebi at Divers...
Next >

Become a Sustaining Member

Since 1995, All About Jazz has championed jazz as an art form and supported the musicians who create it. Over three decades, it has grown into one of the world's leading jazz resources, serving hundreds of thousands of readers, musicians, presenters and industry professionals each month.

Help Build the Future of All About Jazz

Your support helps us continue building All About Jazz for the next generation—expanding our editorial coverage, preserving jazz history, developing new community features and creating better ways to discover the music and the people behind it.

Become a sustaining member for as little as $20 per year and you'll immediately enjoy an ad-free experience along with access to subscriber features and future articles for a full year.

Together, we're not simply sustaining All About Jazz—we're building its future. Thank you for being part of the journey.