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  | BASSBAND ~ BASSBAND
NOT ON LABEL ~ SLOVAKIA ~ Special Products
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016
This is the debut album by Slovak quartet BassbandFind albums by this artist, which comprises of four double-bass players: Jan KrigovskyFind albums by this artist, Jan PrievoznikFind albums by this artist, Metod PodolskyFind albums by this artist and Jan BorzaFind albums by this artist (three Jans out of four – not bad). The album presents ten original compositions, written especially for the quartet by various Slovak composers (only one of those comes from within the quartet and was composed by Borza).
The idea of a quartet comprised solely of basses seems a bit excessive at first, but once the music starts playing, all fears and skepticism are gone and the listener is transported into Bassland, the heaven of bass lovers, myself included!
The music presented on the album is pretty diverse and touches upon the entire scale of musical genres, from Pop to Classical, but all the compositions are inspired and plainly beautiful. As a result great music combined with impressive, original and virtuosic performances simply works like a dream. Contrary to expectations, a bass quartet can sound like a whole orchestra if need be, or as an intimate chamber quartet. The fact that those are only basses playing is immediately pushed back into the subconscious and the music takes over completely.
This album presents an excellent opportunity to change the image of the double-bass, which to most people means very little and is considered as a less significant instrument, where in fact it is of extreme importance to music being the only instrument operating in the low sonic range. In Jazz of course the bass is equally important to all other instruments in an ensemble.
Summa summarum this is a wonderful album, full of exquisite music, superb playing and above all elegance and grace. I wish more such projects, which embrace originality and daring, would be undertaken by as many musicians as possible. I simply can not recommend this album enough. It is an absolute marvel for all true music lovers regardless of age or musical preferences, as it is simply great music!
| | Updated: 11/05/2016Posted: 11/05/2016 | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
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