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The Resonance Ensemble: Kafka in Flight

By Mark Corroto
May 3, 2011
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Until the formation of The Resonance Ensemble in 2007,

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark's writing for large ensembles had been limited to his electro-acoustic Territory Band and

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Br?tzmann's sprawling free jazz Chicago Tentet. With this 10-man group, he succeeds in what he works so very hard at with the Vandermark 5. Like V5, his working band, he is able to integrate his passion for collaboration and orchestration with an individual musician's voice.

Formed in Krakow for a jazz series at Alchemia, Vandermark's The Resonance Ensemble draws from an international pool of musicians. Like the ensemble's previous recordings—Resonance (Not Two, 2008), and the two discs from the massive, 10-CD Resonance (Not Two, 2009) box, Kafka in Flight is a live set, recorded in Gda��sk, at the Philharmonic Hall. The sound is clear and crisp, with Vandermark's writing and orchestration also doing service to the sound. He is never one to clutter or bunch players for the purpose of power and noise. The three lengthy tracks heard here state themes, break into smaller modules that he can stack and rearrange as the music is being presented. Although something like

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie's "April In Paris" shouldn't be expected from Vandermark, there also isn't the mishmash (which is fantastic live, but sometimes doesn't translate well to recordings) that can be found in Br?tzmann's Tentet. The ensemble is quite efficient beginning as a New Orleans brass band on "Rope" with bit of funk and heavy overcoats, only to break into almost silent duet from trombonist

Steve Swell

trombone
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Swell's trombone and tubaist

Per-Åke Holmlander

tuba

" data-original-title="" title="">Per-?ke Holmlander.

Vandermark colors the music, brushing swells and paired notes here and there, but allowing for multiple players to solo freely in improvised sections through separation of parts and themes. The artistry here is his ability to keep all these chunks and slices of sound together in a consistent message.

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Track Listing

The Pier (for Yutaka Takanashi); Rope (for Don Ellis); Coal Marker (for Chris Marker).

Personnel

The Resonance Ensemble

Magnus Broo: trumpet; Michael Zerang: drums; Ken Vandermark: tenor saxophone, Bb clarinet; Mikolaj Trzaska: alto saxophone, bass clarinet; Mark Tokar: double bass; Dave Rempis: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Steve Swell: trombone; Per-?ke Holmlander: tuba; Tim Daisy: drums; Waclaw Zimpel: Bb clarinet bass clarinet, tarogato.

Album information

Title: Kafka in Flight | Year Released: 2011 | Record Label: Not Two Records

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