Audio Clip:

 Desert Walk

Performed by:

Emmanuelle Somer - oboe, English horn
Michael Rabinowitz - bassoon
Erik Friedlander - cello
Marcin Oles - double bass
Bartlomiej Brat Oles - drums

Playlist:

Recorded:

at Studio Buffo, Warsaw, Poland on June 23-24, 2004

About:

Although the title of this great disc is 'Chamber Quintet', which often refers to a small classical chamber ensemble, this is a partially improvised quintet. No doubt you know all about the incredible cellist Erik Friedlander from his extensive work with John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Ellery Eskelin & Myra Melford, well as his half dozen+ discs as a leader. Michael Rabinowitz is another of those under-recognized local legends and one of few musicians who can play complex classical works and bebop lines on a bassoon. Double-reeds specialist, Emmanuelle Somer, is another under-recognized (Belgium-based) wiz who has 3 great discs out under her own name and has worked with downtown's best: Jim Black, Chris Potter & Peter McCann. This session was organized by the Oles brothers, Marcin & Brat, from Poland and one of the finest new rhythm teams in Europe, having recorded with David Murray, Theo Jorgensmann, Rudi Mahall, Ken Vandermark and a number of Poland's best.
Brat Oles wrote all but two of these pieces, his brother the other two. This is some superbly written and immensely well-played chamber music, yet the rhythmic schemes is closer to modern jazz. "Galileo" has that prog-rock sort of groove in the mid-section, yet the oboe reminds me more of early Oregon. The thoughtful writing is consistently interesting, often very subtle and never too dense. Plus, on a few these pieces the oboe, bassoon, cello and acoustic bass get a chance to take some inspired solos. On Marcin's "Rien que nous deux", the cello and bass play well together, bowing and weaving their lines as one lush ball of wool. Only on a few of these pieces, like "Horror vacui" does the quintet take off into an impressive and intense free section. For myself, this music is a much-needed change of pace from the more extreme intensity of free/music or noise.
© Bruce L. Gallanter, Downtown Gallery