Zlatko Kaučič: Zlatko Kaučič@70 - Inklings

I am tempted to call Inklings, a tribute to 70-year-old Slovenian drummer, composer, and percussionist Zlatko Kaućić, a celebration of his long and inspirational career. Yet, I hesitate, for much like the indefatigable octogenarians Han Bennink and Louis Hayes, Kaučič shows no signs of slowing down. It would not be surprising if he, like Roy Haynes, remained vital well into his late nineties. One reason to honor Kaučič now is the arduous and unconventional path he has taken. At 17, he left what was then called Yugoslavia to refine his craft in Italy, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Since returning to newly independent Slovenia in 1992, he has been a driving force in the country's creative music scene while remaining an in-demand talent across Europe. His impressive discography includes collaborations with Peter Brötzmann, Evan Parker, Giovanni Maier, and Daniele D'Agaro. Two recent standout releases, Live In St. Johann (Fundacja Słuchaj!, 2024) with Joëlle Léandre and Elisabeth Harnik, and One Foot In The Air (Not Two, 2024), a double album featuring Harnik, have garnered critical acclaim.

This latest release should be considered alongside Diversity (Not Two, 2018), a five-CD box set commemorating Kaučič's six-decade career. Spanning live performances from 2012 to 2016, it features solo, duo, trio, and quartet recordings with musicians such as Lotte Anker, Johannes Bauer, Agusti Fernandez, Artur Majewski, Rafał Mazur, Phil Minton, and Evan Parker. Inklings is a four-CD collection that showcases Kaučič's artistry in two duos and two trio settings, all recorded live.

Venčko ("wreath") is a 2019 duo recording with Norwegian saxophonist Torben Snekkestad, captured on September 12, 2018, at the BCMF Festival in Šmartno-Brda, Slovenia. Despite this being their first recorded encounter, their synergy is immediate. Snekkestad, adept in both improvisation and classical music, wields extended techniques reminiscent of Evan Parker. Kaučič, in a responsive and complementary role, employs a wide range of percussive textures—cymbals, brushes, skins, and unconventional objects—to match Snekkestad's fluttering tones and metallic timbres. The highlight might be the final eight-minute title track, where the duo engage in a mesmerizing call-and-response interplay between Snekkestad's soprano saxophone and Kaučič's intricate percussive language.

The 36-minute suite "Tiha Misel Zablestela-Suita (A Silent Thought Shined-Suite)" unites Kaučič with German trumpeter Axel Dorner and Slovenian bassist Tomaz Grom. Recorded at the BCMF Festival on September 16, 2023, this marks Kaučič's first documented collaboration with Dörner. Known for his radical approach to trumpet, Dörner alternates between piercing blasts and near-silent breath tones. Kaučič and Grom expand the sonic palette with buzzing strings, bowed bass, and percussive provocations. The trio's interplay is fluid yet electrifying, each musician responding dynamically without overshadowing the others.

Kaučič's duo with Portuguese tenor saxophonist Rodrigo Amado, also recorded at the BCMF Festival, captures their first meeting on September 3, 2020. Opting for a more traditional saxophone-and-drums format, Amado delivers a full-bodied, athletic sound, while Kaučič drives the momentum with dynamic drumming. The performance bursts to life with a fiery opening, a high-speed exchange of raw energy. The final track, "Free Fall IV," begins with Amado exploring the metallic edges of his instrument, overblowing in response to Kaučič's sharp cymbal strikes before they both plunge into an exhilarating crescendo. Their chemistry builds in unpredictable waves—never rushed, yet always urgent.

A particularly special reunion comes in the form of Kaučič's trio with UK bassist Barry Guy and Spanish pianist Agusti Fernandez. All three musicians, now in their seventies, have been integral figures in the evolution of European improvised music. This performance, recorded at the 64th Jazz Festival in Ljubljana on July 6, 2023, coincides with the simultaneous Fundacja Słuchaj! release Agustí Fernández @70—Aesthetic Of Prisms, captured in Glanegg, Austria, just days earlier. Of the seven pieces presented, five are fully improvised, while two—"Can Ram" and "La Niña De La Calle Ibiza"—were composed by Fernández. The trio generates a whirlwind of sonic mayhem, yet there is an underlying precision in their interplay. Amid the tempest, listeners can find solace in the trio's deep, intuitive connection. When the trio shifts gears for Fernández's ballads, the music transforms into a tender, introspective exchange, revealing the full scope of their mastery. Inklings reaffirms Kaučič's enduring influence, his ability to forge deep musical connections, and his boundless creative spirit. It's both a testament to his legacy and a thrilling glimpse into the possibilities still ahead.