Kaufmann/Dimitriadis/Thieke

A distinctive and mostly microtonal variant on an instrumental configuration that dates back to the original Benny Goodman trio, three skilled Europeans improvise on nine tunes that reflect the album title. Germans, clarinetist Michael Thieke and pianist Achim Kaufmann plus Greek drummer Yorgos Dimitriadis have had extensive creative music experience playing with one another and in ensembles featuring the likes of Floros Floridis, Magda Mayas and Harri Sjöström. Kaufmann and Dimitriadis also extend their textures with electronics here.

At the same time the voltage oscillations merely buttress the acoustic sounds. At distinct tempos and pitches the trio members meld roles with little fissure, Dimitriadis concentrates on drum top rubs and resonating rumbles; Kaufmann on crisp pianism that ranges from light key dusting to propulsive pedal point stress or inner string plucks; while Thieke’s breathes involve swallowed timbres, key-less body tube projections and tongue stops.

Two instances of the paradigm brought to fruition with tripartite contributions are “A Epoch of Rain” and “Or Hunger that Gets Lost”. The former overlays pinched clarion reed textures on top of the pianist’s thematic evolution that doubles in intensity as cymbal pops and drum slides join. Thieke ‘s animated whistles then ascend the scale as Kaufmann’s intermittent keyboard pressure move from stop time to conclusive low-pitched tones.

More dissonant, “Or Hunger that Gets Lost” blends the rubs and plucks of inner piano strings with percussion shakes and rumbles as well as squeezed clarinet slurps and chalumeau honks. Subdued electronic pulses are  carefully added as the narrative slows down to encompass carefully spaced and positioned key strokes involving soundboard, bridge and hammers vibrations. Drum patterning and pedal point piano stops up the percussive vibration that climax with an affiliated tough blow from the clarinetist.

Neither swing recreation or chamber Jazz, Hiss and Whir is something more discerning: three-part timbral reorientation that affirms incisive and original sound patterns.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Hiss and Whirr 2  Of Fragments Flowering 3  Snapped Form Thin Branches 4. A Epoch of Rain 5. Purposeful, Stark as a Laugh 6. Or Hunger that Gets Lost 7. The Minute It Isn’t Held 8. Still in Relation to the World, Powerful 9. As a Moon in the Mind

Personnel: Michael Thieke (clarinet); Achim Kaufmann (piano and electronics) and Yorgos Dimitriadis (drums and electronics)