Nov 7 2013
Waclaw Zimpel Quartet – “Stone Fog”
There’s a compelling new release out from clarinetist Waclaw Zimpel. Stone Fog alternates between delicate expressions of a peaceful state and volatile bursts of unbounded motion. And it’s the way in which those two polar extremes feed off one another that makes this a winning album. Tranquil interludes are made that much more evocative by way in which they’re followed by displays of strength… and still evident despite their initial show of restraint. And those sections in which the kinetic energy is almost too much for Zimpel’s quartet to contain, present themselves with a greater intensity just by way of how they spring from moments of pure serenity.
Your album personnel: Waclaw Zimpel (clarinet, alto & Bb clarinets, tarogato, overtone flute), Krzysztof Dys (piano, Rhodes), Klaus Kugel (drums, percussion), and Christian Ramond (double bass).
For instance, the slowly unfolding beauty of “Cold Blue Sky” is followed by “Old Feet Feel Out the Path,” an anxious tune that begins with a nod to traditional jazz, but then quickly expands into a frenetic stream-of-conscious conversation with criss-crossing lines of dialog and rapid responses to hurried statements, gaining intensity and volume the longer the conversation goes on.
But the sudden shifts of wind that make this album so riveting aren’t reflected solely through volume and activity, but also in structure. For following the increasing randomness of “Old Feet Feel Out the Path” comes “A Sudden Shift Missed,” a song that has the behavioral traits of an Ornette Coleman Naked Lunch piece… bursts of warped sound that spring out, then immediately coil back into place with a resounding, satisfying thump, implying a sense of definitive form despite the music’s unpredictable nature.
The murmurs and cries of “As the Moon Dips in Nettles” are emitted with a refreshing patience, an attribute that powers the resonance of the barely contained saxophone furor of “One Side of my Face is Colder Than the Other,” a song that continues this album’s pattern. No different than “Hundred of Wings Steel the Sun,” which begins with an agitation that builds up into a whirlwind of activity before returning to its initial state of mind for the song’s finale. The shifting dynamics of tempo continue on “River Willows Stray”… a song quiet as a church mouse, and twitters about just as furtively.
The album ends as it began. The title-track “Stone Fog” patiently shapes itself into a construct of curious beauty… ragged melodic edges, percussion like pock marks across the song’s surface, and yet a spellbinding imagery that can’t be denied.
A compelling album that I keep returning to.
Released on For Tune Records.
Listen to more album tracks on the label’s Bandcamp page.
In additional to Zimple site linked to above, the Zimpel Quartet has a dedicated site, too, linked HERE.
Jazz from Poland.
Available at: eMusic MP3 | Bandcamp | Amazon CD
Nov 8 2013
Nikolaj Hess – “Trio”
Trio, by Nikolaj Hess, is one of those albums that illustrates just how much room there is to maneuver within small spaces. This piano trio keeps the music wound up tight, letting its evocative nature emanate from within. The softer side of this album prevails, even when the tempo rises up a bit. The tranquility is established right from the start, and it informs every tune thereafter.
It doesn’t stray very far from those first notes. It’s a contained peacefulness, kept close to the album’s heart. And yet, despite keeping close to the heart of things, the combination of strong melodies and a rhythmic approach that tinkers with tempo like a clockmaker altering the stream of time with his stopwatch, this trio offers up a dynamic set of tunes, where the big differences are reflected in the small details.
Your album personnel: Nikolaj Hess (piano), Tony Scherr (bass), and Kenny Wollesen (drums).
The trio opens with a Bob Dylan cover, the first of two on this album. On “Make You Feel My Love,” the trio expresses all the heartfelt sentiment of the original, but delivers it with a lullaby tranquility that sets the tone for this vibrant recording.
“Black and White” is a melancholy tune expressed with the patience of a setting sun. On the other hand, “Masters of War,” the other Dylan cover, is an up-tempo piece that has Scherr walking his bass up and down flights of stairs while pianist Hess chooses to slide down the bannisters, instead.
“Impro” is a brief section of skittering piano notes, kicked up by tiny gusts of rhythm.
“Sept 2010” has a pleasantly simple melody that the trio takes for an equally pleasant stroll through the park. “Kontra,” on the other hand, presents a melody of greater complexity, but finds a way to state it with an embraceable simplicity to match the song previous. The strong melodic construction continues on “Social Club,” though this time Wollesen and Scherr slip in a little groove to shepherd the melody along.
The chipper rendition of Ellington’s “Cottontail” instills an upbeat charm upon the recording, extending the borders of the album’s range of expression without blurring its tight focus. And this is proven by the way the trio slips right into the quiet murmur of “Bridge,” a progression that sounds natural and almost expected.
The album ends, first, with the boisterous “Wind,” a track that sets up the melancholy finale of “Stille Hjerte, Sol Går Ned,” a peaceful tune with the old soul of a folk song and the warmth of a fireplace glow.
Just a beautiful album.
Released on Gateway Music.
It appears that you can stream much of the album on Hess’s artist site, found HERE. A smart idea, because the more of this recording the listener hears, the more they’re going to feel compelled to purchase it.
Jazz from the Denmark and NYC scenes.
Available at: Amazon MP3| Gateway Store (CD)
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By davesumner • Jazz Recommendations, Jazz Recommendations - 2013 Releases • 0