Myra Melford’s Fireplace and Water Quintet – Hear the Mild Singing (Rogue Artwork,
2023)

The best factor to say about Myra Melford’s second recording with the Fireplace
and Water Quintet is that new particulars come by way of on each hear. A chord
change or timbral coloration that eluded the primary ten listens, a shimmery passage
from guitarist Mary Halvorson, a very exuberant melody from Melford’s
piano, smeary tones from Ingrid Laubrock’s saxophone, a fragile melody
perched someplace between a melody and a bassline from cellist Tomeka Reid or
an expertly positioned syncopation from drummer Leslie Mok, every musician presents
moments of particular person shock and delight. Collectively, they assist Melford’s
musical concepts discover the magical stability between free improvisation,
compositional particulars and vigorous groove.

Hear the Mild Singing the second recording from this group, the primary
being the album entitled For the Love of Fireplace and Water from 2021,
with the drumming of Susie Ibarra. That album was fairly good pattern of
perfection – compositionally robust with out being certain to a selected sound or
model and impeccably carried out. Reside, it was apparent that the recording was
only a beginning place, because the quintet expanded on the compositions, turning
the stage right into a musical laboratory. It looks like this was additionally the genesis
of this specific recording, as new musical passages that Melford composed to
enhance upon the music for dwell efficiency have now grown into their very own
full songs. Moreover, as Melford is quoted within the liner notes, the
music was additionally composed for the gamers, as she discovered about every musician,
she composed for them individually.

This definitely come by way of within the recording. On one hand, there may be not likely
a robust hook or principal theme as there are various passages that segue into every
different, every time with completely complimenting harmonies and intertwining
voices. ‘Insertion 4,’ which seems on the second half of the recording,
captures this completely, the slowly unfolding piece options delicate traces
from all of the gamers, it feels gentle however definitely not lightweight, from the
opening moments of Halvorson’s looped burst of tones and Melford’s minimal
arpeggios, to the undercut of Mok’s drums, an delicate environment, laced with
sharp tonal shards, finally channels – nearly imperceptibly – right into a
undulating melody from Laubrock and Halvorson in tandem. Then Reid’s counter
melody rises up, and a mesmerizing alternate ensues.

From the opening passage on ‘Insertion One’ during which Melford performs an
expressive, syncopated introduction earlier than joined by the group, shadowing and
punctuating the formative melodic traces to the depth of ‘Insertion 5,’
which closes the album with a robust collective and easily infectious
power, Hear the Mild Singing is a formidable observe up album to the
equally as excellent debut.

Useless Leaf Butterfly – ontmoeting (Jazzwerkstatt, 2023)

The group’s identify seemingly refers to a kind of butterfly that lives in south
east Asia. It, as implied, seems like a lifeless leaf once they shut their wings,
however when open, might be fairly a colourful show. It might be protected to say that
that is only a identify, because the music from this multi-national quartet is slightly
dazzling from all factors of view.

If something, their debut album title ontmoeting is extra descriptive. It
is a phrase in Dutch which means, merely, “assembly.” All 4 musicians both
name, or have referred to as, Berlin dwelling, or at the very least one in every of their properties. Canadian
trumpeter Lina Allemano, German bassist Maike Hilbig, Spanish percussionist
Lucia Martinez, and Belgian vibraphonist Els Vanderweyer, met in Berlin and
discovered enjoying collectively to work out fairly properly. To the recording, they
introduced some items that they’d composed individually, as properly invented some
new ones collectively, all attaining a richly diversified however musically cohesive
final result.

The album begins with “Beans,” a jumpy quantity that begins off with Allemano’s
targeted trumpet spitting out quick phrases, shadowed by Vanderweyer’s muted
vibraphone, Hilbig’s shortened phrases, and Martinez’s stuttering percussion.
The kinks straighten out about half-way by way of the tune as spirited enjoying
takes over. The next observe, ‘Cremant,’ following a brief legato intro,
unfolds right into a slinking groove. The mutes are gone from Vanderweyer’s
vibraphone and the sound is full and the temper fairly ‘cool.’ Martinez provides some
low within the combine however excessive within the environment electronics – which finally get
caught up in a duet with Allemano. The electronics proceed within the epic
cinematic bull-fight of ‘Bolboreta.’

So, let or not it’s said within the minutes, the ontmoeting was a extremely
profitable.

Maria Dybbroe – MEUF vol 2 (Barefoot Data, 2024)

The sounds discovered throughout the ten tracks vary from folkloric to bracingly
experimental. ‘Skreii’ by Guro Kvifte Nesheim and Camilla Gap is at turns
melancholic and serene, whereas ‘Siren,’ composed by
Kirstine Lindemann and voiced by Ly Tran is fairly haunting. Dybbroe’s
composition for 2 strings, ‘Vi ser havet i det fjerne – half I’ and performed by violaist Lisa Marie Vogel and violinist Bettina Ezaki, is austere and
transferring, capturing the sweeping Nordic vistas in a short while span.

You may have to only hear for your self as that is only a quick description of
the primary few tracks, a teaser for a compilation that opens a door to a world
of inventive music from artists who cowl the spectrum from folks to classical
to digital (‘Encircle’ by Sofie Norling and Michala Østergaard) to
noisy soundscapes (Sarah Buchner and Andrea S. Giordano’s ‘Sweetner’) to
unbounded free jazz (‘Brussel’s Antimatter’ from Amalie Dahl and Ornella
Noulet) and extra.

Right here is the total itemizing of musicians on the recording: