Microtub

Another formulated essay in tones and textures, Microtub’s Thin Peaks uses the timbral projections from three microtonal tubas to create an original program. Divided between a concise four-part suite and  the 17-minute title track, the Uk’s Robin Hayward, with an F tuba and Norway’s Martin Taxt and Peder Simonsen, work through half valve undulations and blended breaths and drones with the same facility and versatility expected from smaller, lighter brass instruments.

In this configuration for a decade and a half, the three members move among improvised, notated and aleatory music. Individually each has worked with representative players from all genre including Andrea Neumann, Toshinura Nakumura, Bendik Giske and Alvin Lucier.

Tandem harmonies that are extended and blend characterize the four parts of “Andersabo”, with near-static motion and overlapping portamento prevalent. Sometimes stacked and usually melded, the defining moments occur on “Part 3” and “Part 4”. On the first, the sequence moves past group overblowing with the lowest pitched tuba creating a darkened ostinato and the others moving from connective smears to motifs that isolate tremolo timbres from each. A variation on that theme “Part 4” attains the resultant repetitive puffs and sighs, but those are built up in stairstep fashion from each horn.

Lengthier than the previous suite “Thin Peaks” is anything but pointed and slender. An interlocking brass bleed creates more concentrated and layered harmonies, but the invention involves one horn taking the lead with hunting-horn-like half-valve rips until the others’ ascending grace notes meld with it. The developed concluding mass blowing is shattered only at the last minute as a trumpet-pitched smear arches over growls from the other tubas.

Earlier improvisers have freed the tuba from its Tubby the Tuba reputation. Microtub’s strategy is to use microtones to propel the bulky vehicles past usual terrestrial concepts to explore uniquely uncharted timbres.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Andersabo Part 1 2. Andersabo Part 2 3. Andersabo Part 3 4. Andersabo Part 4 5. Thin Peaks

Personnel: Robin Hayward (microtonal F tuba); Martin Taxt (microtonal C tuba) and Peder Simonsen (microtonal C tuba)