Record Reviews

TANAKA ~ LITHP KADIMA COLLECTIVE 15 ~ ISRAEL ~ Jazz Recorded: 2007 Released: 2008 2nd album by Israeli Improvised Music quartet TanakaFind albums by this artist, which consists of Adi SnirFind albums by this artist (soprano & tenor saxophone, clarinet), Roni BrennerFind albums by this artist (guitar), Michel MayerFind albums by this artist (guitar) and Ofer BymelFind albums by this artist (drums). These four young musicians play some of the most extreme Improvised Music I ever came across, which is pretty unique and astounding, but extremely difficult and uncommunicative. The music bears some resemblance to musique concrete, incidental music and industrial. The album consists of a series of 13 relatively short pieces and one extended performance, with the musicians using their instruments in completely unconventional manner and the overall result is very difficult to describe, especially to people who have no experience with hard-core Avant-Garde music. Nevertheless adventurous listeners might find this stuff fascinating and it does expand the borders of “music making”, which is always commendable. This stuff is for people, who are extremely open-minded and ready to test their intellectual capacity, regardless of the effort this requites.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

AYUMI TANAKA ~ MEMENTO AMP 006 (Barcode: 662578830993) ~ JAPAN ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2015 Released: 2016 This is the debut album as a leader by Japanese (resident in Norway) pianist / composer Ayumi TanakaFind albums by this artist, recorded in a classic piano trio format with bassist Christian Meaas SvendsenFind albums by this artist and drummer Per Oddvar JohansenFind albums by this artist. The album presents seven original compositions, six of which were composed by Tanaka and one by Svendsen. The music is a wonderful example of open form / free / Avant-Garde Jazz and Improvised Music, which is remarkably gentle, welcoming and inviting. It evolves slowly, sparingly and discreetly, with silence being an integral part of the composition having a Zen like inspiration on the overall effect. The melodic themes are stated briefly almost immediately leaving the center stage for improvisations and interplay between the trio members. All three members of the trio emerge as remarkable instrumentalists, each of them in a different way. Tanaka plays passionate arpeggios, forceful chords and delicate single notes with the same sensitivity, minimalism and elegance, even in the most eventful flows of intensity. Svendsen and Johansen support her amicably and intimately all the way from start to finish, not only when they play but also when they leave her alone at the right moment to enable her to make her own statement from time to time. The symbiosis of the trio is of course one of its major advantages, leaving egos and personal ambitions out of the way. This kind of music can only work out when all the participants are completely and unconditionally involved. Even though the music is very open, that does not mean that it misses beautiful melodic, lyrical statements, sometimes right out in the open and at other times subtly in the background. The music definitely carries some Nordic Jazz references, especially when it moves very slowly and hesitantly, but then again it does have it own language and identity and balances the Scandinavian influx with Japanese influences. Overall listening to this album constitutes a highly aesthetic experience, which of course changes each time the music plays, depending on the listener´s mood and state of mind. It is one of those statements that have a life of their own and as such can be listened to repeatedly and being rediscovered anew each time. The music is beautifully recorded, with perfect peach and separation, which makes the listening experience even more perfect. The only drawback is the fact that the music lasts only slightly over half an hour, way shorter than one might expect these days. On the other hand perhaps this is just the right portion of this delight and more would have been superfluous? Regardless of what the answer to that question might be, this is a true little miniature piece of musical bliss! Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: 02/06/2016

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend