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Mats Gustafsson: MG50 Peace & Fire
Mats Gustafsson
woodwindsb.1964
John Zorn
saxophone, altob.1953
What's missing? Sure we wish
Peter Brötzmann
woodwinds1941 - 2023
Joe McPhee
woodwindsb.1939
Barry Guy
bass, acousticb.1947
Thurston Moore
guitarThe music of these four discs comprises sixteen different lineups, and of the twenty-nine tracks, Gustafsson performs on seventeen.
Disc one opens with two free pieces by Gustafsson and percussionist Didi Kern, "Peace" and "Fire." Both present that itch that cannot be scratched of extended technique. Same for RISC or Billy Roisz and Dieb13's ambient electronic drone "Birthday Boy." Next up is Sven-?ke Johansson, the septuagenarian drummer performing a solo and singing the two classics "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "I Cover The Waterfront" as he did on Hudson Riv A Foggy Day (S?J, 2011). The highlight, though, on disc one is Gustafsson's band Swedish Azz with Per ?ke Holmlander (tuba), Kjell Nordeson (vibraphone), Dieb 13 (turntables), and Erik Carlsson (drums). The quintet subverts the melody of conventional modern Swedish jazz with extended technique, sampling and distortion of time. Besides here, their output has been available only on 12," 11," 10" and 7" vinyl, and are indeed, prized editions to any collection.
Disc two brings the the noise with Fake The Facts, a skillful free trio of Gustafsson playing both saxophone and electronics, Martin Siewert (guitar/electronics) and turntable artist Dieb13. They are joined by drummer Martin Brandlmayr and Paul Lytton for nearly twenty minutes stirring a cauldron of energy and clamor. This is followed by the duo of electronics artist Christof Kurzmann and vocalist Sofia Jernberg, the Swedish Shelly Hirsch and finally three tracks by Gustafsson's most ambitious project to date, his ensemble Fire!, which can be as small as a trio (with Johan Berthling and Andreas Werliin) or as large as a twenty piece orchestra. Here the trio expands to a septet with Agustí Fernández, two vocalists and bagpipes. The dreamy first piece "Molting Slowly (Without Noticing)" is warm up for the more intense and heavy sounds of "Exit Part Two" and "Would I Whip." Two pieces that would satisfy any Zeppelin fans out there.
Disc three finds Gustafsson in collaboration (apparently a first) with the Austrian contemporary music ensemble Klangforum Wien. Their two pieces explore a sort of chamber free improvisation, mixing strings, oboe, flute with the birthday boy's fluteophone, slide and baritone saxophone. Next up is a reunion of Gustafsson with the Tr!o of Günter Christmann (cello & trombone) and Paul Lovens (drums & cymbals) plus Thomas Lehn's synthesizer. Each player, a master of free improvisation, paints a Pollock-like smatter of confusion, that requires a hyperopic ear.
The disc ends with perhaps the finest garage rock (slash) jazz band in the world, The Thing. Gustafsson, Ingebrigt H?ker Flaten, and Paal Nilssen-Love are joined by Chicagoan
Ken Vandermark
saxophoneb.1964
Disc four is sans Mats. Each piece is a solo performance with the exception of Christof Kurzmann and Ken Vandermark's duo "Vienna Upstairs," a mesmerizing landscape piece with the saxophonist sailing over the carpet of electronics. Kjell Nordeson parades and regales us with his percussive attack on vibraphone and drum set. Per ?ke Holmlander on tuba, Agustí Fernández, piano and Erwan Keravec's bagpipes each expand their instruments with extended technique on their solo tracks. Each a marvel of approach and each a captivating listen. The disc ends with saxophonist Anna H?gberg alto solo "Ha Den ?ran" (Happy Birthday). The young Swedish musician may just be the next Mats. Her technique, featured on her stunning release Anna H?gberg Attack (Omlott, 2016) is the next evolution in improvised jazz, and gives us confidence that the revolution begun by Coltrane and carried on by Ayler, Br?tzmann, and Gustafsson will continue. ">
Track Listing
(CD1) Peace; Fire; Birthday Boy; Part Of Klingend Und Festgehalten; I Didn't Know What Time It Was; I Cover The Waterfront; Liding? Airport; Quincy; Du Gl?djerika Sk?na; M?ster; (CD2) I Accept My Longing. The Travels.; Wien; Molting Slowly (Without Noticing); Exit Part Two; Would I Whip; (CD3) Konstellation; Intervention; One; Two; Unnoticed. I Battle.; Unheard. I Yiel.; Unseen. I Mirror The Perspectives.; (CD4) Miramar; Summer With M.; M.G. - Fifty Is Just The Beginning…; MatsMatMaM / MatsAtsTsS; Urban Pipes; Vienna Upstairs; Ha Den ?ran.
Personnel
Mats Gustafsson
woodwindsMats Gustafsson: fluteophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, bass saxophone, slide saxophone, live electronics; Didi Kern: drums, objects; Billy Roisz: electric bass, electronics, audible video devices; Dieb 13: turntables, klopfer; Sven-?ke Johansson: toms, symbols, snaredrum, brushes, voice; Per ?ke Holmlander: tuba, cimbasso; Kjell Nordeson: vibraphone, percussion; Erik Carlsson: drums; Agustí Fernández: piano, Crumar organ, Fender Rhodes; Erwan Keravec: bagpipes; Christof Kurzmann: ppooll, rubber band, vocals; Anna H?gberg: alto saxophone; Eva Furrer: flute; Markus Deuter: oboe; Anders Nyqvist: trumpet; Annette Bik: violin; Gunde J?ch-Micko: violin; Dimitrios Polisoidis: viola; Benedikt Leitner: violincello; Uli Fussenegger: double bass; Gerald Preinfalk: tubax; Lukas Schiske: percussion; Bj?rn Wilker: percussion; Günter Christmann: cello, trombone; Paul Lovens: drums, cymbals; Thomas Lehn: analogue synthesizer; Ken Vandermark: clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone; Ingebrigt H?ker Flaten: bass; Paal Nilssen-Love: drums; Martin Brandlmayr: drums; Paul Lytton: drums, bits & pieces; Martin Siewert: guitars, electronics, ring stinger; Sofia Jernberg: vocals; Johan Berthling: electric bass; Andreas Werlin: drums; Marian Wallentin: vocals; Sofia Jernberg: vocals.
Album information
Title: MG50 Peace & Fire | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Trost Records
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