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Drori Mondlak and Karolina Strassmayer: Freescapes

By Hrayr Attarian
April 26, 2022
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Drori Mondlak and Karolina Strassmayer: Freescapes

During twenty plus years of collaboration, drummer

Drori Mondlak

drums
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">Drori Mondlak and saxophonist / flutist

" data-original-title="" title="">Karolina Strassmayer have perfected their creative chemistry. Their highly individual styles are, nevertheless, seamlessly complementary resulting in a unique sound that marks their superb releases. Their eighth, the haunting Freescapes, is an absorbing work with an undercurrent of subtle mysticism that showcases this synergy and splendid musicianship on nine interlinked tracks.

Opening with "Sing To Me Of..,," a duet between the co-leaders, and closing with Mondlak's unaccompanied "Octopus Dance," the album maintains a sublime balance of tense mood and raw spirituality. The former tune is eastern flavored and features Strassmayer's meditative alto saxophone meandering within Mondlak's resonant, atmospheric percussion. The result is hauntingly solemn. On the latter Mondlak thrills with his overlapping, agile beats and breathtaking acrobatics that are elegantly reserved and never showy.

Similarly Zen like ambience permeates the angular "Sticks and Flurries." Pianist

Rainer Böhm

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Rainer B?hm bounces his shimmering arpeggios off of Mondlak's intricate, crystalline rhythmic patterns. Strassmayer, switching to flute, forges a serpentine pattern within these intriguing, labyrinthine refrains. The quartet flirts delightfully with dissonance.

Bassist

Thomas Stabenow

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">Thomas Stabenow starts off the lyrical "Aahhh!" with a folkish, melancholic solo. The ensemble exchanges are poetic and ethereal, endowing the group play with an incisive and primal asceticism. Strassmayer burns through the hypnotic vamps with intelligence and passion while B?hm mirrors her ardor with an inventive and eloquent improvisation.

In contrast, the soulful "Courage" incorporates bluesy fragments in both the collective performance as well as the individual extemporizations. Strassmayer's undulating, warm phrases coalesce into a fiery soliloquy while B?hm's cascading keys embellish the core melody with suave swagger. Mondlak's rolling drums and rustling cymbals and Stabenow's reverberating lines keep this expressive piece simmering with anticipation

Freescapes is a captivating recording of sophisticated spontaneity. Its theme is simultaneously personal and universal and the music is both innovative and accessible. It is easily Mondlak and Strassmayer's best effort to date.

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Track Listing

Sing To Me Of...; Mallets And Air; Sticks And Flurries; Brushes Dancing; Courage; Hands And Feet Talking; Aahhh!; Both Held And Free; Octopus Dance.

Personnel

Drori Mondlak

drums

Karolina Strassmayer

saxophone, alto

Rainer B?hm

piano

Thomas Stabenow

bass, acoustic

Album information

Title: Freescapes | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Lilypad Music

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