Angelika Niescier

Confirming her in sync affiliations with Windy City improvisers, German alto saxophonist Angelika Niescier assembled two local groups to interpret nine compositions with sophisticated perception that belie oceanic separation. The approach is consistent with the saxophonist’ internationalism which over the years has seen her forge partnerships with the likes of Alexander Hawakins and Tomeka Reid,

Drummer Mike Reed is featured on all nine tracks, but otherwise sounds are divided between quartets. One matches Niescier and Reed with bassist Luke Stewart and flutist Nicole Mitchell; the other has the drummer and saxophonist playing alongside tenor and alto saxophonist Dave Rempis and vibist Jason Adasiewicz. Each of these Chicago young veterans have histories with innovative sound explorers, including Peter Brötzmann, James Brandon Lewis, Ken Vandermark, Wadada Leo Smith and Joëlle Léandre.

Each quartet emphasizes contrasting timbres. For instance the Mitchell/Stewart group on tracks such as “Samo (BSQT)”, take advantage of rhythm section fusion. As well as locking in the groove, Reed focused ruffs and paradiddles set up the exposition, while throughout Stewart advances from chiming string plucks to thickened slides. Meanwhile Michell’s aggressive vocalized slurs and yearning slithers join with Niescier’s shaking split tones  and elevated yelps to create a tandem interchange as each riffs around the other’s solo. Turning splayed vibraphone reverberations into kaleidoscopic colorations on “Fluxed” and other instances with Adasiewicz and Rempis, Niescier moves up the scale with tongue stops, shakes and shudders as Rempis on tenor saxophonist fragments the narrative past melody but with the dissection fit logically with the drum pulse that preserves the track’s linear flow.

Contrapuntally challenges are often set up involving Niescier and either of the horn players. With Rempis the interface is often as much a duel as dual expressions. At points tandem saxophone undulations are interrupted as the alto saxophonist turns to triple tonguing, speedy split tones and stop-time flutters as Rempis propels up and down tongue slaps and thickened bites. Vibraphone sustain then usually knits the tones back to layered intermingling. In contrast Michell’s flute expertise emphasizes both basso bellows and tremolo puffs, often in the same solo or concentrated as continuum. Yet dialogue remains constant as Niescier self-assured collection of yelps, snorts and broken octave affiliations join Reed’s smacks and respirations to create variants that advance logically without losing any toughness.

Remnants of Northern European immigrant impacts on Chicago culture may have aided the cohesive musical integration that characterize the Chicago Tapes as well as the Chicago-birthed music that has long animated European Jazz. Or maybe the session’s achievement pinpoints the celebratory sounds that result when equally accomplished players from anywhere unite to make music.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1 Rejoice Disrupt Resist 2. Poranek 3. Samo (BSQT) 4. Ext. 17 5. Great Horned Owl 6. Fluxed 7. Bouncin’ the Ledge 8. Perigeo 9. E Randolph Street

Personnel: Angelika Niescier (alto saxophone); Dave Rempis (alto and tenor saxophones); Nicole Mitchell (flute); Jason Adasiewicz (vibes); Luke Stewart (bass) and Mike Reed (drums)