December 6, 2006 |
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Lori Freedman
3
Ambiances Magnétiques AM 157 CD
Recorded over three days, 3 showcases three sets of compositions interpreted by three dynamic trios, whose only constant is Montreal-based clarinetist and bass clarinetist Lori Freedman.
Sounding arcing timbres, harsh spit tones, rhythmic tongue slaps, rotund chalumeau vibrations and moist glissandi, Freedman molds her impressive technique to reflect each situation. However only two parts of this triple header attain the highest score. Most memorable are her five interchanges with the off-kilter folksiness of René Lussiers guitar and the pulsating crackles of Martin Tétreaults turntables; as well as her chamber group-like interplay on four tracks with Nicolas Caloias thumping bass and Danielle Palardy Rogers ever-shifting, understated percussion.
Sweeping, twangy vibrations and kazoo-like squeaks from respectively, Rainer Wiens prepared guitar and Jean Deromes alto saxophone upset the triangular game plan though. Too many reed buzzes and trills contrapuntally piled on top of one another relieved only by reverberating strums weaken those four selections.
But two outta three aint bad, with the remaining threesomes superlative. Rogers rattles and inventions plus Caloias blunt string-stopping and sawing deftly fuse with Freedmans vibrated flutter tones to resolve compositions from atonally to connective, horizontal interaction.
Most protuberant of the triptych meetings are those with Lussier-Tétreault. With the turntables shrill whistles, hissing static and metrical scratches bushing against the guitars chromatic snaps and crashing rasgueado, the mood is definitely POMO. Utilizing this droll interaction, the clarinetist regularly knits the strands together with mellow vibrated pitches which succinctly complete the tripartite musical impulses.
— Ken Waxman
For Whole Note Vol. 12 #4