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Squakk: Willisau & Berlin
BySquakk has existed as a outfit for over seven years, built upon foundations forged by multiple previous collaborations. For those less familiar with the Berlin scene reedman Rudi Mahall may be most celebrated among its number from his tenure with pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach's Monks Casino, which also boasts bassist Jan Roder. Mahall's vocalized bass clarinet, reveling in explosive yelps and leaps between registers, forms part of a splendid front line with Christof Thewes' garrulous nimble trombone. On drums Michael Griener is crisp and precise, forming a finely honed unit with Roder, adept at the quicksilver recalibration which enlivens the mix of eight charts and two improvs.
Thewes' lengthy "Nova Swing" engenders deft give and take across the whole group. They speed up and slow down, touch on march styles and showcase individual talent across its 20-minute plus duration. Nine shorter cuts follows, which at times function almost as sketches. Over in just a couple of minutes, "Blue Chili Out" is a languid ballad, featuring Roder's bass as the horns mutter, while "Draw" possesses a sprightly theme established by repetition which prompts Mahall's clarinet to move from bluesy cry to braying overtones. "Was Aus" passes in a Latin-tinged rhythm replete with woozy swoons. "Schlimmer geht Nimmer/ Schlimmer geht immer" delivers more free-bop, squeezing a multitude of references into its 8 minutes including snatches of Dixieland polyphony. Like the rest of the album, it leaves a smile on the face.
Track Listing
Nova Swing; Blue Chili Out; Draw; A Dune, Perhaps; Mostly Harmless; Was Aus; Schlimmer geht Nimmer/ Schlimmer geht immer; Trinkled; Lark's Wail; Aud Der Schnerr.
Personnel
Michael Griener
drumsMichael Griener: drums; Rudi Mahall: bass clarinet; clarinet; baritone saxophone; Jan Roder: double bass; Christof Thewes: trombone.
Album information
Title: Willisau & Berlin | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Intakt Records