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3 Reviews Found. Use search to find more reviews or follow the links in the review text.

KASPER TOM / ALEXANDER VON SCHLIPPENBACH / RUDI MAHALL ~ ABSTRACT WINDOW
WHYPLAYJAZZ 032 (Barcode: 4250459999325) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music

Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017

This is the debut album by the trio consisting of Heavyweight Champions of the European Improvised Music scene: Danish drummer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist and German pianist Alexander von SchlippenbachFind albums by this artist and clarinetist Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist. They perform eleven relatively short improvised pieces credited to the three participating musicians.

The trio is a wonderful example of the continuity of the European Improvised Music tradition, bringing together musicians from three generations: Kasper Tom (born 1981), von Schlippenbach (born 1938) and Mahall (born 1966). The age and experience differences are of course completely irrelevant as far as the music is concerned. The album also crowns the fast developing career of Kasper Tom, who with his consistently excellent contributions as performer and composer pawed his way from anonymity the international repute in this extremely competitive field in a relatively short period of time.

The music also emphasizes the nature of European Improvised Music, against its parallel from across the pond. These relatively short pieces are concentrated expressions of Freedom, which is articulated by the unity of the trio and not by a race of musicians trying to blow each other off the stage.

The music is of course everything people familiar with these musicians in particular, and the European Improvised scene in general, might expect: brilliant musicianship, wonderful respect and attention towards each other, minimalism and elegance, all these of the highest caliber. Improvised Music does not get better than this.

The individual statements are also very interesting, being completely different from each other. Von Schlippenbach plays long beautiful arpeggios and harmonic chords, which constitute the basic layer upon the music is floating. Mahall carries the role of a story teller, spinning his short, dramatic tales consisting of long series of notes. Kasper Tom plays everything but a steady rhythm, but at the same time he still is the metronome of this music. His tribal approach turns the rhythmic patterns into a multicultural experience. Of course the performances present a series of wonderful solo, duo and trio improvisations, which spontaneously emerge in the process.

Overall this is an instant classic, an album which other Improvised Music recordings will be measured against, not in the sense of competition but in the sense of setting an example others should learn from. Absolutely essential to all Improvised Music connoisseurs!
Updated: 03/06/2017Posted: 03/06/2017CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

AKI TAKASE ~ PLAYS FATS WALLER
ENJA 9152 (Barcode: 767522915228) ~ JAPAN ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music

Recorded: 2003 Released: 2004

This is an album by Japanese (resident in Germany) pianist / composer Aki TakaseFind albums by this artist, recorded with an excellent team of German musicians: bass clarinetist Rudi MahalFind albums by this artist, trombonist Nils WogramFind albums by this artist, trumpeter Thomas HebererFind albums by this artist, drummer Paul LovensFind albums by this artist and American vocalist / banjoist / guitarist Eugene ChadbourneFind albums by this artist. The album presents fifteen, mostly short tracks, and as the title suggests most of which were composed by the great American pianist / composer Fats WallerFind albums by this artist, with six original compositions by Takase also included.

The music moves constantly between the Stride Jazz, associated with Waller, and the completely modern / Free Jazz, which is the usual modus operandi of the musicians playing on the album, creating a wonderful stylistic see-saw and a brilliant musical experience. People expecting to hear here straightforward interpretation of Harlem Jazz from the 1920s and 1930s are in for a real big surprise ;)

Takase transforms Waller’s smoothly into the 21st Century, ignoring stylistic constrains and seeming “ignoring” the traditions, but of course a trained ear easily hears the genius involved. It’s not a coincidence that Takase has been one of my all-time favorite pianist and bandleaders, and this album is a perfect example of her super-human abilities.

Obviously it takes some intellectual effort to recognize the manipulations applied to the original compositions and the transformation path they go through herein, but the satisfaction is absolutely guaranteed.

Overall, this is a brilliant example of Takase’s genius, and her unique way of treating the Jazz tradition, bringing them into contemporary Jazz. The excellent team stands up to the challenge without a hitch and this music, despite its curves and twists, is a highly aesthetic journey into the unexpected. Wholeheartedly recommended!
Updated: 16/12/2023Posted: 16/12/2023CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KASPER TOM / RUDI MAHALL ~ ONE MAN`S TRASH IS ANOTHER MAN`S TREASURE
BAREFOOT 050 (Barcode: 5707471045640) ~ DENMARK ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music

Recorded: 2016 Released: 2016

This is an album by the duo comprising of Danish drummer / composer Kasper Tom ChristiansenFind albums by this artist and German clarinetist / composer Rudi MahallFind albums by this artist, who are both members of the Kasper Tom 5Find albums by this artist quintet. Together they perform nine original pieces, all co-composed by Christiansen and Mahall.

The music is by far the most Avant-Garde excursion by Christiansen, who recorded prolifically in the last few years. Most of his albums as leader or sideman have been quite Free oriented, but this one seems to be completely instantaneously created Improvised Music, which abandons all forms of conventional Jazz completely.

The great charm of Christiansen´s music was always the ability to play ambitious and innovative music and at the same time to maintain accessibility to his music, which is not present, for the first time, on this album. Improvised music for the sake of being improvised is almost never able to reach many listeners beyond the actual performers, and this album proves it.

Although both Christiansen and Mahall are very gifted and promising young musicians, this album is simply "a bridge too far", crossing into the metaphysical sphere of concentration upon oneself and leaving the rest of the world behind.

After following Christiansen for a few years and enjoying his development, I am not discouraged at all by this album. It simply is another experiment on his path towards discovering his musical personality. Perhaps a bit self indulging and detached, but this album still shows great musicality and ability to communicate with his partner.

In short this is extreme Avant-Garde Improvised Music, for the hardcore fans of the genre only, and little appeal to more or less conventional listeners.
Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 29/05/2016CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

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