Zingaro/Maderia/Borges

Tonus
Analog Deviation
New Wave of Jazz nwoj 0067

Under the rubric of creative improvised music a variety of sonic notions can be expressed even if the instrumentation and inspirations arise from similar circumstances. So it is with these string-directed programs from two European trios. Trizmaris for instance is an all-Portuguese sessions by a couple of generations of that country’s most accomplished players. Dean of Lusitanian improvisers, violinist Carlos Zingaro has for years played with numerous international sound explorers such as Joëlle Léandre and Urs Leimgruber. Slightly younger stylists, percussionist Sofia Borges moves among several musical genres and has worked with the players including Craig Taborn and several choreographers. Bassist João Madeira is a linchpin of the Lisbon scene, working with associates like Bruno Parrinha. The trio’s four-part improvisation is free music but still includes rhythm and melodic references. More abstract and pointed, Tonus’ two improvisations encompass tonal ambiguity and rhythmic transformation as the trio members languidly stretch out their distinct response to free form challenges. The band is Belgians, guitarist Dirk Serries and pianist Martina Verhoeven, who singly or together have worked internationally with among many others Charlotte Keeffe and José Lencastre; while the UK’s Benedict Taylor, playing viola and broken fiddle, has worked with Paul Dunmall and Alexander Hawkins.

Taking advantage of thick double bass wood and taut strings, Madeira’s strums and stops help define the architecture of Trizmaris along with Borges’ drum rat tat tats and shuffles. Meanwhile Zingaro’s high-pitched squeaks and spiccato pulls fragment the exposition which then becomes more intense and speedier when joined by the bassist’s arco thrusts. While percussion strokes sometimes are appended to produce a three-part connection, the drummer’s positioned ruffs continue to ground the others’ variations. These include knife-sharp arco stabs and pizzicato twangs from the fiddler that tease the narrative towards the atonal as col legno bass thumps or below-the-bridge slices and bell-tree and triangle pings briefly respond. All eventually harmonizer in broken-octave connection. The climax arrives soon afterwords as Zingaro’s string whistles and Maderia’s sling-shot-like arco responses slowly vibrate down the scale to a conclusive meld.

Tonus’ differences from Zingaro/Maderia/Borges are in starkest contrast before Verhoeven’s inner string strums and soundboard echoes from the piano are finally obvious about 10 minutes into the improvisation. That’s because Taylor’s arco viola pinches intersect with Serries flat string clanks and frails at the top. The two string players’ flanged strains, rubs and stretches are further emphasized as the pianist’s rolling patterns provide a complementary bass line. The subtle timbral transformations are further emphasized as an adagio slide finds isolated guitar picking prominent among elevated and basement shakes from piano pitches. The trio’s slightly longer “Outbound” confirms Tonus’ identification as a string trio combining discordant fiddle rubs, bottleneck-like guitar frails and massed inner piano string shakes. Additional percussion arises from Verhoeven smacking the piano’s wood and Serries doing the same on his guitar’s body as Taylor brings out his broken fiddle to screech dog whistle-like strains as the exposition speeds up. Reaching a sequence of group tension so intense that imminent string breakage is suggested, intermittent passing tones finally connect individual split tones. First suggested by Serries’ mandolin-like frails and Verhoeven’s keyboard thumps, eventually Taylor’s elevated rubs propel a final sequence that that is as imbued with intermittency as improvisation.

Low key without being chamber programs and both rewarding careful listening, each disc illustrates individual methods to propel unique string-based trio music.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Trizmaris: 1. Trizmaris I 2. Trizmaris II 3. Trizmaris II 4. Trizmaris IV

Personnel: Trizmaris: Carlos Zíngaro (violin); João Madeira (bass) and Sofia Borges (drums and percussion)

Track Listing: Analog: 1, Inbound 2. Outbound

Personnel: Analog: Benedict Taylor (viola and broken fiddle); Martina Verhoeven (piano) and Dirk Serries (guitar)