Saxophonist/composer Tim Berne is noted for his searing climactic opuses and strenuously complex improvisations. Besides, he possesses one of the most distinctive alto saxophone styles in all of modern jazz. With this 2002 release, the artist pursues a series of chamber-like compositional frameworks rendered by the four saxophonists of the ARTE Quartett.
Berne also utilizes his longtime musical associate Marc Ducret (acoustic guitar) during two solo works amid his group-based involvement. In addition, Berne's alto work is prominently featured on the extended arrangement titled "Quicksand." Here, the leader serves as the fifth sax voice, while the ARTE Quartett and Ducret partake in a series of contrapuntal movements fabricated upon alternating melodies and pumping lines.
However, this production is fragmented into movements that feature the ARTE Quartett performing with or without Berne, Ducret, and electric guitar hero/electronics ace David Torn. The musicians execute interweaving choruses marked by contrapuntal statements and tricky time signatures, as innate classical concepts coalesce with jazz-style improvisation. The band raises the bar in spots, and this outing signifies one of Berne's most ambitious statements to date.
Another point of interest resides within "Tonguefarmer," Torn and Ducret's stirring yet altogether contradictory acoustic-electric duet. The Sevens indicates a crafty paradigm shift, regardless of whether it signifies a fleeting experiment or a precursor to other projects of this ilk. (AllMusic Review by Glenn Astarita)
1. REPULSION 11:22 ARTE Quartell (Beat Hofstetter, soprano sax, Sascha Armbruster, alto sax: Andrea Formenti, tenor sax; Beat Kappeler, baritone sax) 2. SEQUEL WHY 2:49 Marc Ducret, acoustic guitar 3. REVERSION 4:20 ARTE Quartett 1 source material); David Torn, electric guitars, loops, sonic nurturing 4. QUICKSAND 25:20 ARTE Quartett; Tim Berne, alto sax; Marc Ducret, acoustic guitar 5. TONGUEFARMER 4:53 Marc Ducret (source material); David Torn, electric guitars. loops, sonic redistribution 6. SEQUEL EX 2:31 Marc Ducret, acoustic guitar
All compositions by Tim Berne, except track 3 by Tim Berne/David Torn and track 5 by Tim Berne/Marc Ducret/David Torn. All compositions published by Berne Party Music (BMI), except tracks 3 and 5, by Berne Party Music (BMI) and David Torn/Torn Music (BMI)
Produced by Tim Berne, except tracks 3 and 5, produced and re-mixed by David
Torn/Cell Labs. Tracks 1, 2, 4, and 6 mixed March 5 by Ron Kurz at the Workshop in Switzerland; tracks 3 and 5 mixed March 1-6 by Splattercell at Cell Labs. Digital
‘Less is more’ is a well-known saying. It’s an oxymoron because of its paradoxical nature. Paradoxes take us beyond ingrained patterns of perception, reasoning and action. That’s what is in the expression as coined by the old Greek. This newly formed unit’s music is simple without being simple. It sounds vaguely familiar and strange at the same time. It resembles a lot known and nothing known. It has a fairy tale quality and as we know, in fairy tales lots of wondrous things can happen. Drummer Peter Bruun from Copenhagen has been aware through his musical career of the creative potential and power lurking in paradoxical manoeuvres. In this new unit he has gathered three like-minded musical fellows under the 'All Too Human' flag. Through the years he undertook a lot of terra incognita expeditions with pianist Simon Toldam, guitarist Marc Ducret and trumpeter Kasper Tranberg. It connected and connects them on deeper levels in their musical interaction.
Parsed into four discrete pieces, the Taktlos performance is a fluid exercise in revolving roles from the jump. Ducret trades in jagged punctuations, mercurial arpeggios and swollen drone bursts on Stoppage, the first and longest. Blaser reacts as balm, his lubricious lines drawing a direct invisible lineage back suave and soothing bop purveyers. A reversal and it’s Blaser with low brass growls as Brunn colors the corners and edges keeping a rhythmic presence which bolsters and ornaments without drawing attention away from the colloquy of his colleagues. A drum solo filled with fluid, frothing beats works as both palate cleanser and reset into an ambling blues. Later, a froggy brass ostinato serves a similar purpose signaling first clean picking from Ducret and then feral, sharp-fanged blasts of distortion.
One of the best-kept secrets of the vibrant Danish jazz scene is drummer Michala Østergaard-Nielsen. A unique musician that can shape the course or the mood of any musical texture with her unique, serene and economic touch. She can blend organically with the vocal jazz quartet David’s Angels, the art-rock trio Nuaia (both with Swedish vocalist Sofie Norling), or the electronics meets free-improvisation of the Swedish Midaricondo duo. Her second album with her own quartet, the Østergaard Art Quartet, follows the acclaimed debut Stories from the Village (BoogiePost Recordings, 2011), and highlights her other talents, that of being a leader of strong-minded musicians and a master improviser.
The quartet is a European supergroup, featuring Norwegian trumpeter and vocalist Per Jørgensen, known from his ongoing collaborations with percussionist Terje Isungset and the trio Jøkleba, Danish trumpeter Kasper Tranberg, known from his collaboration with Yusef Lateef, Adam Rudolph in the Universal Quartet, and French master guitarist Marc Ducret.
As on the Quartet's debut, the short pieces offer an imaginary narrative of life in a remote, rural community, where music plays an integral role in the daily life. This kind of approach to music was perfected by the Art Ensemble of Chicago, embracing black music from the past to future. Østergaard Art Quartet invents its own timeless culture, located in a mysterious destination, yet a very colorful and dramatic one. The album was recorded during the Quartet Nordic tour in 2014.
The musical pieces/improvisations are weaved patiently, offering a choir of sympathetic yet highly original voices, all are experienced storytellers who know how to build a dramatic tension and then to offer a comforting conclusion. This quartet can create an intense emotional atmosphere with no more than sparse and gentle touches, breaths and whispers, as on the fascinating “Storytime”; suggest an inspiring manner of extending each other voice as delivered on “Night fall”; stage an urgent, playful and nuanced mini-drama as on “Little tiger, Part II” or offer a spiritual, meditative universe with repeated, cyclical expressions as on “Beautiful Bells and Trumpet Trance”.
My only complaint about this most beautiful gem: why just 37 minutes, after we have waited so patiently for five long years? We, all, deserve more, and if possible, sometime soon.
In the village
Hunting
Story time
A roadtrip to an old mountain
Intermezzo
Playtime
Night fall
Little tiger, part II
The guitar player
Beautiful bells and trumpet trance
A gentle celebration
Marc Ducret (FR): guitar
Per Jørgensen (NO): trumpet, vocal and darabouka
Kasper Traberg (DK): trumpet and cornet
Michala Østergaard-Nielsen (DK): drums, percussion
Track 1, 2, 8, & 11 recorded live by Rune Børø at Nasjonal Jazzscene, Oslo, October 2014
All other tracks recorded live by Thomas Vang at The Village Recording, Vanløse, October 2014
Mixed by Thomas Vang (thevillage.dk)
Mastered by Brian Mørk Hansen
Produced by Michala Østergaard-Nielsen
Cover Design by Mai-Britt Amsler (maibrittamsler.dk)
Marc Ducret plays on Vendramini guitars.
Thanks to:
Kasper, Per and Marc, Boogiepost Recordings, Thomas Vang, Brian Mørk Hansen, Mai-Britt Amsler, Majken, Jama and family and friends for love and support.
Guitariste virtuose, Marc Ducret, le double français de John Scofield et Pat Metheny, taquine avec une dextérité impressionnante, le oud, la basse, le fretless, et tout ce qui a des cordes. Maintes fois récompensé dans des catégories et techniques de jeux diverses, il est capable de dessiner des univers d’une étrange poésie. Autodidacte éternel, il ne cesse d’apprendre, sans que personne ne puisse savoir jusqu’où il ira…
Le trio Journal Intime est une mise en oreilles de nos fantasmes acoustiques, une proposition d’acrobaties musicales tendres et puissantes. C’est une plongée au cœur de la musique soufflée, du groove le plus dansant au jazz le plus minimaliste… Une aventure intime à partager ! Outre Ducret, ils sont les compagnons de route réguliers de Vincent Peirani, Eve Risser, Yuko Oshima, Jacques Higelin, André Minvielle, Rodolphe Burger, Nosfell, la Campagnie des musiques à ouïr… Leur musique danse, chante, chuchote et crie avec une exigence jubilatoire et connivente. Elle est une ode à la musique acoustique diablement électrisante.
« Lorsqu’on a la chance de rencontrer des musiciens aussi complets, de partager des moments de musique, de recherche, d’expérimentation avec eux, on a envie de pousser l’aventure plus loin et d’essayer de nouvelles formes ; c’est en travaillant en profondeur avec les mêmes orchestres que j’ai appris le plus. Des pôles d’intérêt communs, des envies partagées, un goût de la forme et de la structure qui laisse respirer l’improvisation, une rigueur rythmique qui s’invente en dehors des réflexes ou des sentiers battus : inviter Journal Intime à jouer ma musique me paraissait une évidence ». Marc Ducret.
