Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Carlo Actis Dato / Kazutoki Umezu: Wake Up with the Birds

102

Carlo Actis Dato / Kazutoki Umezu: Wake Up with the Birds

By

Sign in to view read count
Carlo Actis Dato / Kazutoki Umezu: Wake Up with the Birds
There is so much happening on this disc that it's hard to believe that there are only two musicians. But what musicians they are! Multi-instrumentalist reed men Carlo Actis Dato, from Italy, and Kazutoki Umezu, from Japan, are a combustible combination, and their series of six duos here is a nonstop wonder of improvisational invention. Their rhythmic abilities are so dynamic as to render a rhythm section utterly superfluous.

In the liner notes there's a photo of the duo, and in the photo there's another photo on the wall - of Eric Dolphy. He's an apt progenitor of this music, for while he never ventured this far out, both Carlo Actis Dato and Kazutoki Umezu share his wild and free melodicism. This music can be furiously propulsive (and high-octane lyrical), as on the opening "Mad Chickens." It can also be playful, as one may expect by now from Actis Dato. "Wild Shells" begins with both men vocalizing. It's hard to tell who's who, but one of them is doing an aces impersonation of Tuvan throat singing.

Both, at various points during these duos, sound the tones of their native folk musics. Other points (parts of "Afrocats") are just simply lovely, despite the full-throttle nature of the proceedings. This is a chance to hear two first-line improvisers who are little-known Stateside. Don't pass this one up.

Carlo Actis Dato, ts, baritone s, b cl; Kazutoki Umezu, ss, as, Bb cl, b cl.

Personnel

Album information

Title: Wake Up with the Birds | Year Released: 2000 | Record Label: Leo Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create 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.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.