Kodian Plus

Despite the massive mistake that was Brexit there’s still a place for collaborations between enlightened folks from the United Kingdom and the European Union. Nowhere is it reflected more profoundly than in this set of improvised music from a mixed UK/Belgian crew. Representing HRH are trumpeter/flugelhornist Charlotte Keeffe , alto saxophonist Colin Webster and drummer Andrew Lisle. Hailing from the Lowlands are pianist Martina Verhoeven and guitarist Dirk Serries.

Except for Keeffe, who plays with Martin Archer and others, the remaining four have worked together in various combinations as well as if with others in Europe and elsewhere. Unlike most politician coalitions however the trumpeter’s portamento runs, half-valve squeaks and soaring triplets bring welcome new textures to already distinctive synergy. This begins as early as the first track where after an introduction of electronic crackles, key stops and tongue slaps, the group burst into a polyphonic exposition of brassy flutters, unbroken reed doits, percussion smacks and pressurized piano comping. This ricochet between miasma and multiphonics continues throughout the session with the guitarist occasionally adding splattering frails and upward treble clanks. “The Five-Headed Anomaly” ascends to the tonal crescendo emanating from Verhoeven’s key pounding, Webster’s yelps and tongue stops, Keeffe’s bugling rips and plunger tones and Lisle’s press rolls. After the explosion subsides the horns suck and kiss their way down to sighs and stutters, exposing a hidden swing section which has peeked throughout the program as it evolves.

As toneless air and string stops throb throughout the concluding “Kind Of Things” spittle encrusted sax smears, piano cross pulses and brass grace notes give way to near-replication of the clipped tones that began the improvisation. The completed circle references both continuum and the timbral variations that have taken place. The quintet members may claim to be disengage (d), but their engagement is how international politics should evolve.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Latching Effect 2. Caurous 3. The Five-Headed Anomaly 4. Kind Of Things

Personnel: Charlotte Keeffe (trumpet, flugelhorn); Colin Webster (alto saxophone); Martina Verhoeven (piano); Dirk Serries (guitar) and Andrew Lisle (drums)