Bloomers

There should be  – and probably has been – an essay on feminist history written about the importance of the dates referenced on the 15 track titles of this particular CD. From a musical point of the view though the relevance of Cyclism is how perceptively the Bloomers’ trio use their horn textures to propel melded and motivated timbres.

Named for the mid-19^th century garment that gave women unprecedented freedom of movement and travel, usually on bicycles, the Bloomers are part of the advanced Copenhagen music scene. Trumpeter Anne Efternøler, who has recorded with Thomas Morgan among others; and clarinetist/alto saxophonist Maria Dybbroe, who played in the Caktus band are Danish. Meanwhile clarinetist/bass clarinetist Carolyn Goodwin, who plays contemporary music and is part of the Extemporize Orchestra, is Irish.

Essentially the concept revolves around using one instrument as the lead voice with the others serving as a complementary Greek chorus. Usually low key, the variants range from relaxed expositions such as “Paris, November 3rd, 1793” where layered alto saxophone and clarinet tones intersect, to others such as “Space, June 16th, 1963”  where the three players reach the highest pitches of unaccented reed twitters and brassy grace notes yet keep ascending further.

Some tracks, such as “Stockholm, December 10th, 1905” meld variations on high-pitched brass triplets and yelping reed echoes into a warm mid-range exposition. Others celebrate or condemn important episodes of women’s history, with the choice of lyrical portamento and harmonized undulations or the projection of tongue slaps, reed slurs, mouthpiece sucks or chalumeau register growls sonically commenting on the noted situations.

Probably the most moving and expressive arrangement is that of the two-part “Tehran, September 16th, 2022”, honoring Masha Amini who died in police custody after she was detained for wearing her hijab in a non-appropriate manner. Although “Part I” begins with fluffy timbres that are gentling and straight ahead, “Part II” ascending to brass snarls and double-tongued clarion efforts that finally explode into plunger brass tones mated with droning reed smears that suggest anger.

The fact that for many these important dates in women’s history are unknown is a situation that should be rectified. However the sounds  on Cyclism can stand on their own as distinguished improvised music.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Seneca Falls, May 12th, 1851  2. Stockholm, December 10th, 1905 3. Beacon Hill, June 27th, 1894 4. Dublin, May 25th, 2018 5. Cyberspace, October 15th, 2017 6. Venice, June 5th, 1646 7. Paris, November 3rd, 1793 8. Homer, May 27th, 1818 9. Tehran, September 16th, 2022 – Part I 10. Tehran, September 16th, 2022 – Part II 11. Moscow, February 21st, 2012 12. Reykjavik, October 24th, 1975 13. Space, June 16th, 1963 14. Akron, Ohio, 1851 15. Mollis, June 13th, 1782

Personnel: Anne Efternøler (trumpet); Maria Dybbroe (clarinet and alto saxophone) and Carolyn Goodwin (clarinet and bass clarinet)