Marco Eneidi Quintet

A fitting memorial to a Free Jazz soldier, Wheat Fields of Kleylehof is a newly discovered 2004 studio recording by alto saxophonist Marco Eneidi (1956-2016). The group was a specially  constituted Bay area quintet, put together by the alto saxophonist after a New York sojourn and before he spent an extended period in Vienna. Somewhat of an anomaly on the sunny West Coast, Eneidi often worked with the likes of tougher Free Jazzers like Glenn Spearmann and Lisle Ellis. The group on Wheat Fields of Kleylehof is an expanded version of the saxophonist’s regular playing situation with trumpeter Darren Johnston, guitarist John Finkbeiner, bassist Damon Smith and drummer Vijay Anderson. In 2004 the Bay area crew was just establishing careers. The late Finkbeiner then played with the likes of Lisa Mezzacappa; Anderson with Adam Lane; Johnston with Anna Weber; and Smith with numerous free improvisers in Europe and North America.

Wheat Fields of Kleylehof, named for an area in Austria, is a six-part suite that gets more pressurized, intense and passionate as it evolves. What happens during the narrative is that tutti andante resonations alternate and cap individual explorations. Sul tasto bass string rubs, twanging guitar breaks, peeping trumpet portamento and drum ruffs take their places during the exposition as do Eneidi’s reed outbursts. Its capstone is on “Part 2” , which consists of his Bedlam honks, curving split tones and altissimo smears, backed by a moderated bass string buzz, drum thumps and cymbal sizzles.

Johnston gets to move forward on “Part 5” as grainy trumpet asides seem to dig into the brass architecture, but without losing touch with lyricism. As guitar, bass and drums timbres throb at a slow pace, here and often otherwise, the saxophonist’s multiphonic growls and screams are involved in aleatory emphasis with the trumpeter. Elsewhere however this strategy takes the form of elongated reed smears and key percussion which challenge Johnston’s reliance on hand-muted yelps, bright shakes and mouthpiece sucks.

With final sequence built around a tough martial-style beat which echoes the introduction, reed and brass tones turn equally bellicose with plunger work and downwards sax slurs. Bridged by slashing guitar string stabs the climax manages to be muscular and multiphonic, as well as measured and melodic.

Eneidi deserve respect for a lifetimes of creativity. Luckily we have this disc to experience that creativity as it was devised.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Prelude 2. Part 1 3. Part 2 4. Part 3 5. Part 4 6. Part 5 7. Part 6

Personnel: Darren Johnston (trumpet); Marco Eneidi (alto saxophone); John Finkbeiner (guitar); Damon Smith (bass) and Vijay Anderson (drums)