Pégânes

Avoiding the pitfalls of more conventional sessions, Docte Ignorance’s four selections keep all of Pégânes’ players on equal footing. By creatively balancing the textures created by two horn players and two string players creative improvisation is emphasized and vaporous delicacy avoided. This is also dependent on the skills of the musicians. But as part of Le Fondeur de Son artistic collective they’re already committed to textural inquiry. Trumpeter Nicolas Souchal has recorded with Daunik Lazro; saxophonist/clarinetist Geoffroy Gesser is part of the Umlaut big band; cellist Karsten Hochapfel has worked with Alexandra Grimal; and bassist Yoram Rosilio has recorded with Andrew Lamb.

While the bassist is often the creator of a broken octave continuum, that doesn’t stop him and the cellist from adding melodic glissandi as well as paced strident buzzes, col legno skitters and sul tasto runs to the polyphonic narratives. Meanwhile initial abstracted blowing soon becomes reed tongue slaps and plunger brass moans as the quartet slide into the harmonized polyphony of “La gouvernance des ânes”. With toneless breaths passing through Souchal’s trumpet as a leitmotif, and unbroken buzzes from Gesser’s reeds, a portamento provocation is set up with dual string clunks and rubs. Working to double bass stick-among-string vibrations and pulses, the exposition passes from instrument to instrument until it reaches an elongated climax with the concluding “Autoportrait volant”. Lyrical asides are manifested at the same time as the four split into duos: irregular bass strokes meet col legno cello strains. while sharp reed bites challenge first staccato brass flutters; and later top-of-range reed whistles with angled cello slices.

Throughout the quartet never loses the theme, eventually projected by a trumpet pivot to grace notes. But this takes place without neglecting strident scratches and pressure which express equivalent dissonance. By the end brassy ripples and speedy string pressure combine to confirm both parts of the narrative’s dual inferences. The CD title may be translated as learned ignorance, but accomplished sound experiments are actually emphasized over any purported shallowness during this compelling session.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Donkey lonial (à Med Hondo) 2. La gouvernance des ânes 3. Docte ignorance 4. Autoportrait volant

Personnel: Nicolas Souchal (trumpet); Geoffroy Gesser (tenor saxophone and clarinet); Karsten Hochapfel (cello) and Yoram Rosilio (bass)