Marta Warelis

Composed following a commission from the Amsterdam venue Bimhuis, Polish pianist Marta Warelis’ Still Life with Lemons is described as multilayered and the multiphonic. It’s also multicultural since almost every member of the sextet come from a different country. Besides Warelis, who has worked with everyone from the Trondheim Jazz Orchestra to John Butcher, the group includes two Americans: trumpeter Ben LaMar Gay, who has played with groups as different as the Wet Ink Ensemble and Tommaso Moretti’s; and drummer Frank Rosaly, whose scope includes music with dancers, singers and John Dikeman; and Canadian alto saxophonist Karen Ng, whose numerous outlets include Rob Clutton’s trio and the Dun Band; plus Norwegian bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten whose experience takes in associations with the likes of Mats Gustafsson and Pasal Nilssen-Love. The one Netherlands native is clarinetist/tenor saxophonist Ab Baars, involved in a long partnership with Ig Henneman.

Considering every member also leads his or her own group, the chances of sonic discord could be multiplied. But Warelis’ skilful composing and arrangement bonds everyone, with sufficient space left for individual expression. For instance the climatic “Ashes to Sea’ contrasts the bassist’s aggressive thumps and string sustain with subdued keyboard tinkles that slowly develop the theme with percussive strokes. Meanwhile harmonized reed riffs and portamento trumpet cascades invigorate it further as the rhythm sections chugs along. The preceding atmospheric “The Sky Blushes” could be a reed concerto as clarinet and alto saxophone trills and flutters intertwine and interlock as they push upwards. Elsewhere LaMar Gay’s mournful, near static grace notes are paired with drum resonation to confirm linear motion, while the one time Warelis emphasizes bubbling synthesizer oscillations they share space with piano comping and jittery horn interludes.

The lively “Alternate Endings” would seem to be the defining track however, confirming that interpretive suites can be high-spirited as well as unhurried. Propelling the exposition forward with a combination of reed bites, determined percussion beats and highly rhythmic piano clips. The subsequent saxophone swells and piano pump give way to bass drum, hi hat and snare solo, which following gong resonation, Warelis recaps the initial theme in a more formal manner.

More notable for individual wok than its designated theme, Still Life with Lemons is a fine instance of cross-cultural music with almost no still life and no lemons.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Birds 2. There to the Bridge 3. Alternate Endings 4. Intermittent Web of Sorts 5. The Sky Blushes Sunset 6. Ashes to Sea

Personnel: Ben LaMar Gay (trumpet, electronics) Karen Ng (clarinet, alto saxophone); Ab Baars (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Marta Warelis (piano, synthesizer); Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) and Frank Rosaly (drums, gongs)