Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Lina Allemano: Canons

Lina Allemano: Canons

By Troy Dostert
December 1, 2023
View read count

Capping twenty years of running Lumo Records—a record label dedicated to her multifarious projects—with Canons, trumpeter

Lina Allemano

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Lina Allemano has assembled several innovative ensembles to give voice to her distinctive chamber-jazz aesthetic. While it might not be as obviously adventurous as some of her previous releases, it retains Allemano's signature emphasis on finding the ideal pivot point between composition and improvisation. And it is often a quite beautiful listening experience as well.

Allemano has always been a crafty improviser, but it is her remarkable precision which stands out on the overdubbed opener, "3 Trumpet Canon," where her three crisply-articulated trumpet parts dovetail in eminently logical ways. However, even here we get a glimpse of Allemano's mischievous side, as she gradually steers each line away from its melodic center to something much more abstract, with percussive breathing ushering the track to its conclusion— without melody, yet somehow remaining within the canon form, as each part echoes and responds to the others. Allemano's maverick tendencies also take center stage in her duos with

Mike Smith

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Mike Smith, whose real-time electronic manipulations both harness the creative potential of the canon and add atmospheric texture to Allemano's improvised lines, heard to especially fine effect on "Shadows." On "Wilds," a distorted mute brings out other dimensions of Allemano's playing as Smith cleverly refracts and counters her various moves.

But, as is always the case with Allemano, even at her most unorthodox moments there is usually an assertive lyricism that emerges. A subtle beauty takes shape in "Twinkle Tones," a piece in which Allemano is joined by guitarist

Tim Posgate

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Posgate and bassist

Rob Clutton

bass, acoustic
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Rob Clutton, with

Ryan Driver

synthesizer

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Driver contributing synth parts. Moving from an initially tentative exploration of texture, the track finds its way toward a radiant epiphany, with Allemano's soaring lines taking flight. Most lovely of all is "Bobby's Canon," a three-part canon featuring cellist

Peggy Lee

vocals
1920 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Peggy Lee and clarinetist

Brodie West

clarinet

" data-original-title="" title="">Brodie West. Here Allemano joins her colleagues in a graceful reverie which expertly channels each of their individual voices, leaving room for improvisational creativity while still staying within the piece's gravitational center.

A delightful album which reveals additional facets of Allemano's artistry, Canons is also a fine celebration of Lumo Records' first twenty years, hopefully with many more to come.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

3 Trumpet Canon; Bobby's Canon; Shadows (by BLOOP); Butterscones; Wilds (by BLOOP); Twinkle Tones; Moons (by BLOOP); Canon of Sorts; Ponds (by BLOOP).

Personnel

Lina Allemano

trumpet

Peggy Lee (cellist)

cello

Brodie West

clarinet

Mike Smith

saxophone

Rob Clutton

bass, acoustic

Ryan Driver

synthesizer

Tim Posgate

guitar

Matthias M��ller

trombone

Album information

Title: Canons | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Lumo Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

American Railroad?: Silkroad Ensem...
< Previous

The Eye is the First Circle
Next >

Lina Allemano Concerts

Oct 18 Sat

Jazz and Experimental in Berlin - day#4 (of 4)

PANDA Platforma
Berlin, Germany

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.