Basile Naudet / Luca Ventimiglia / Augustin Bette

The Moms

Kalipedia

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Exhilarating noise Jazz from two European trios that conclusively prove that improvisers can create notably unique sounds in bands with chordal instruments in one case or a drummer in the other. Tumult meisters featured on Copenhagen-recorded Kalipedia are Catalan saxophonist Albert Cirera, known who is in bands with Agustí Fernández, plus two Danes who have worked with Axel Dörner, Taus Bregnhøj-Olesen using guitar and circuit bent effect pedals and Asger Thomsen who manipulates bass and objects. Meanwhile the contingent on the Paris-recorded Where is Mr. R is alto saxophonist Basile Naudet, a member of the Surnatural Orchestra, who works regularly with drummer Augustin Bette, and vibraphone player Luca Ventimiglia who has recorded with Jean Brice Godet.

A single over 39-minute chunk of unstoppable Free Music, the Danish disc is almost visual in its projections of oscillations, shakes and splatters. Programmed circuits create a controlled dentist-drill-like continuum that underlines the almost opaque exposition that is studded with whistling reed breaths or unrefined saxophone shrieks, plus rubbed flanges from the string players. By the halfway point the stop-start narrative takes on a percussive cast with belt-stropping tremors. Further on the industrial drone of rupturing objects starts to break down into string-and body scrapes from the guitar, bowed bass lines and thin whooshes from Cirera projected through the horn’s body tube without key percussion. Finally the three reach an interactive crescendo where soprano saxophone split tones almost attain human vocalizing. Soon these onomatopoeic trills blend with the strings’ object vibrations and pedal processes, creating a cumulative textural grind and then diffuses into a single slide-whistle like shrill atop cascading rhythmic rumbles.

Dividing the Gallic session into two improvisations of about 14-minute each, still means that the performances are projected with the same power and intensity as on the other disc. In the place of the chordal bass and guitar however, Ventimiglia’s vibe textures project both beauty and brawn. Affiliating in turn with the drums or the saxophone, the reverberating metal bar clangs are reminiscent of Bobby Hutcherson’s well-paced contributions to Eric Dolphy’s groups or Earl Griffith’s with Cecil Taylor’s quartet. As the vibist ricochets light to dark textures, the others constantly follow their own strategies. Bette’s spaced smacks and backbeat create the bottom and Naudet’s harsh dissecting of single patterns allows for minute examination of every tone permutation. During the first sequence of “18 LUGLIO II”, the saxophonist’s goose-like honks become renal with a lower-pitched timbre exploration. As the drums and vibes combine for allegro interface the three stack mountains of tones upon one another as they fly forward and finally cut off the piece after exhausting multiple variations.

Prescriptions for invigorating sets of energy music, you can healthily inoculate yourself with either or like the Covid-19 vaccines variations try both.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Kalipedia: Albert Cirera (tenor and soprano saxophones and objects); Taus Bregnhøj-Olesen (guitar and circuit bent effect pedals) and Asger Thomsen (bass and objects)

Personnel: Kalipedia: 1. Kalipedia

Track Listing: Where: 1. 18 LUGLIO I 2. 18 LUGLIO II

Personnel: Where: Basile Naudet (alto saxophone); Luca Ventimiglia (vibraphone) and Augustin Bette (drums)