Record Reviews

BONES ~ BONES LEO 743 (Barcode: 5024792074327) ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015 This is the debut eponymous album by the Israeli Free Jazz / Improvised Music trio BonesFind albums by this artist, which comprises of bass clarinetist Ziv TaubenfeldFind albums by this artist (resident in Amsterdam), bassist Shay HazanFind albums by this artist and drummer Nir SabagFind albums by this artist (resident in Berlin). The album presents eight original compositions, all by Taubenfeld. The bass clarinet is a relatively rare candidate for the lead instrument in a trio, but its completely unique sound works like a charm, which makes any piece of music played on it instantly loveable, especially in the Free Jazz community. This album is no exception and the music it contains is truly superb from start to finish. The trio manages skillfully to employ the right balance between the bass clarinet solo parts and the ensemble work, as well as the balance between the instruments. Mutual respect and open-mindedness are felt immediately and contribute greatly to the overall success of this project. Although these musicians are all still very young, they project a remarkable maturity on this album, which of course contributes as well. Taubenfeld´s compositions, which are surprisingly profound and complex, serve as ideal vehicles for the trio´s improvisations. The themes are often stated in a minimalistic manner, only to be picked up by the trio and expanded further. Although this is definitely a Free Form environment, the music has a wonderful swinging feeling about it, which is often only hinted at by the rhythm section. The individual performances by all three players are outstanding, sometimes even virtuosic, and their combined forces turn the trio into a powerful and magnificent music making apparatus, which takes no prisoners. Overall this is a remarkable debut effort and one of the best Israeli Free Jazz / Improvised Music releases so far. This album was released by the relentless Leo FeiginFind albums by this artist on his now legendary LeoFind albums on this label Records label, a home of some of the best challenging music on this planet, which is also quite a distinction for these young musicians. Well done gentlemen!

Updated: 10/02/2016Posted: 10/02/2016

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PERELMAN / SHIPP / DICKEY / CLEAVER ~ ENIGMA LEO 683 (Barcode: 5024792068326) ~ BRAZIL ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2013 Released: 2013 This is an album by Brazilian saxophonist / composer Ivo PerelmanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific figures on the contemporary Improvised Music scene, recorded with American improvisers: pianist Matthew ShippFind albums by this artist and drummers Whit DickeyFind albums by this artist and Gerald CleaverFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all of which are co-credited to the members of the quartet. This lineup, which features two drummers playing in tandem, is not completely unheard off, neither in Jazz nor in Free Jazz / Improvised Jazz, but in the case of the latter, makes things, not surprisingly, even more complex and dense that usual. But anything related with complexity is of course the essence of Perelman’s modus operandi, and was bound to happen sooner or later. The resulting music is therefore even more intense and multi-layered that usual, but also displays new possibilities for Improvised Music. Unexpectedly, or perhaps not, Shipp’s contributions herein are the steady, leading, and coherent element, which makes it possible for the listener to follow the music somewhat more effortlessly. Shipp is of course almost a symbiotic twin in Perelman’s recorded legacy, present on the majority of his albums over the years. Perelman is considered as one of the most radical / uncompromising representatives of the Free Jazz / Improvised Music activists, and his vast recording legacy, which spans dozens of albums, is usually quite difficult and uninviting even to the most dedicated Improvising Music listeners. This is the reason why I write about his albums rather sparingly, despite the fact that I have many of his recordings in my collection. The album was released on the LeoFind albums on this label Records label, like most of Perelman’s output. The label was founded in 1979 by Leo FeiginFind albums by this artist, a Russian journalist and broadcaster, who emigrated to the UK and worked at the BBC. In its early years Leo Records released many albums by Russian Avant-Garde / Free Jazz artists, but later expanded the catalogue to include international improvisers, including some fifty albums by Perelman. The label ceased to release new material in 2019. Overall, this is a challenging and demanding piece of music, and yet definitely worth visiting for the open-minded and inquisitive listeners, which can definitely expand one’s aesthetic horizons. It might require more than one listening session, but once the depth of the music and the talents of the musicians is in plain sight, this might be quite a journey of discovery.

Updated: 11/05/2026Posted: 11/05/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

IVO PERELMAN / SIRIUS QUARTET ~ THE PASSION ACCORDING TO G. H. LEO 642 (Barcode: 5024792064229) ~ BRAZIL ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2011 Released: 2012 This is an album by Brazilian saxophonist / composer Ivo PerelmanFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific figures on the contemporary Improvised Music scene, recorded with the multi-national Sirius QuartetFind albums by this artist, a unique string quartet, which is also involved in the Improvising Music milieu. The album presents six tracks, which are parts of one improvised piece, co-credited to Perelman and the members of the quartet. If anyone expects to find here the typical “Jazz & Strings” music, nothing could be more distant from the reality. Although the music is performed by a saxophone and a string quartet, but the music is completely improvised, including the string quartet´s contributions, which of course makes it quite unique, since string quartets are usually not associated with improvisation. But alas, the Sirius Quartet is anything but a usual string quartet, as can be clearly heard herein. Perelman is considered as one of the most radical / uncompromising representatives of the Free Jazz / Improvised Music activists, and his vast recording legacy, which spans dozens of albums, is usually quite difficult and uninviting even to the most dedicated Improvising Music listeners. This album, however, is somewhat more accessible, and this is why I decided to write about it, despite the fact that I have many of his recordings in my collection. The album was released on the LeoFind albums on this label Records label, like most of Perelman’s output. The label was founded in 1979 by Leo FeiginFind albums by this artist, a Russian journalist and broadcaster, who emigrated to the UK and worked at the BBC. In its early years Leo Records released many albums by Russian Avant-Garde / Free Jazz artists, but later expanded the catalogue to include international improvisers, including some fifty albums by Perelman. The label ceased to release new material in 2019. Overall, this is a challenging and demanding piece of music, and yet definitely worth visiting for the open-minded and inquisitive listeners, which can definitely expand one’s aesthetic horizons. It might require more than one listening session, but once the depth of the music and the talents of the musicians is in plain sight, this might be quite a journey of discovery.

Updated: 05/05/2026Posted: 05/05/2026

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend