By

Martin Schray

SOG is a quartet by trumpeter Lina Allemano, bassist Matthias Bauer,
percussionist Rudi Fischerlehner and pianist Uwe Oberg – in different phrases:
three glorious members of the Berlin Echtzeit cosmos are augmented by the
most distinguished musician of the very vigorous Wiesbaden scene (Oberg). What’s
extra, SOG is the German phrase for “eddying“ or “maelstrom“ and that is
precisely what the quartet’s music is like. The 4 items “El Remolino“,
“Il Vortice“, Le Tourbillon“ and “Malstrom“ all imply the identical factor in
completely different languages. This is the reason not less than the three main items are
structured alike (“Malstrom“ is just a really quick encore). As a listener
there’s no strategy to escape the magic, the vitality and the sheer magnificence this
music develops over the course of virtually 60 minutes.

“El Remolino“, the opening monitor, is the right instance of the band’s thought
for this undertaking. It’s harking back to a typical Cecil Taylor piece from the
2000s. Earlier than the wind instrument kicks in, the rhythm part leads as much as
it. Oberg makes use of delicate Taylor-like clusters, Fischerlehner performs the Tony
Oxley/Paul Lovens half with robust emphasis on snare, cymbals and prolonged
supplies, Bauer drives ahead unobtrusively, but uncompromisingly. When
Allemano’s trumpet lastly begins, it blends easily into this construction,
its tone pointed and clear. Right here and there she feels like a army
trumpeter in a free jazz band. However the truth that the band has its personal
idea turns into clear already within the duel between Oberg and her, as a result of
right here the pianist deviates from any Taylorian influences and goes his personal
means. If the listeners assume they could be capable to focus much less, the music
pulls them again in – as in a maelstrom. Out of nowhere the sound of
Allemano’s trumpet adjustments, one thinks she actually tears the notes aside.
Oberg responds with ready sounds harking back to a spinet. From this
second on, each devices float feather-light above the bass and drums,
and Bauer and Fischerlehner notice that they solely must be supportive
right here. In these first ten minutes the piece is as if from a single mould,
it’s a first-rate instance of European free jazz – solely to disintegrate
utterly (which it doesn’t, of course)! The drums lose their pulse, the
similar goes for the bass. The trumpet meanders in nowhere, the piano units
very sporadic notes. Bass and drums scratch round on their devices. It
appears as if the musicians leer at one another to see who will lead the
improvisation again to the start. In the long run, it’s all of them collectively,
via depth and quantity. Highly effective chords, sharp, bowed bass strains and
pointed trumpet runs are all it takes. Fischerlehner, apparently, stays
utterly out of it right here, which provides to the vitality stage. By the top of
the piece, the band is definitely again to free jazz, however with completely different
timbres. Fischerlehner’s drums are darker, extra driving (that is the place it
comes into play that he’s additionally at house within the rock realm), Oberg performs
flashy, excessive notes, whereas Bauer and Allemano once more attempt to tear the piece
aside sonically. When it comes to construction and vitality management, “El Remolino“ is
definitely top-of-the-line items I’ve heard this 12 months, and “Il Vortice“ and
“Le Tourbillon“ are under no circumstances inferior to it.

All in all, SOG is a superb band and a terrific album. At any time when I come throughout
Uwe Oberg, I feel that I always underestimate his means of enjoying, the
similar goes for Matthias Bauer (I’ve to make amends right here). Then once more, I’m
a giant fan of Rudi Fischerlehner, whose restrained however extremely versatile
fashion of enjoying has at all times fascinated me. Nonetheless, what Lina Allemano does
on this album, is excellent. The best way she performs with diversified sound colors
and textures makes the distinction that this album is not only excellent,
however excellent.

SOG is offered as a CD and as a obtain.

You may hearken to the album and purchase it right here: