Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Zhenya Strigalev: Never Group

Zhenya Strigalev: Never Group

By Mark F. Turner
March 23, 2016
View read count

Alto saxophonist Zhenya Strigalev's trio Never Group with drummer

Eric Harland

drums
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Harland and bassist

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Lefebvre bring its definition of punk jazz with in-ear-your-ear performances with a nonchalant attitude. Recorded over two days in Berlin with a few guests dropping in on the fun, the recording is compelling in its inventive energy.

This follow-up to Strigalev's 2015 sextet release Robin Goodie(Whirlwind) finds his tendencies shifting from more traditional jazz to freer and a range of influences. Within the hour plus 20 tracks are bits of humor ("I Messed up at the End of My Solo"), Reggae-ish bounce grooves ("Some Thomas"), hypno-grunge rock ("Strange Party") and number of experimental codas.

Like a DJ mix tape it would be easy to dismiss the variety as some post-modern hipster playlist but what comes through with clear resolve is the trio's skill and jam session vibe. Strigalev's arid horn is bright and effortless revealed in

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker-like flights and empathetic playing. Harland's stature as one of jazz's leading drummer is well known and he's in his element whether popping a nasty back beat in "Little Struggle (coda 3)" or caressing the cymbals in "Second Hand" as Strigalev alto blows tenderly while Lefebvre, who is no stranger to progressive-thinking music, provides command lines on electric bass.

Showstoppers include the intense jam called "Bio Active" fueled by Harland's obliterating traps, Lefebvre's funky riff and Strigalev's passionate playing. Weird noises emanate from "Bassgeingengeister" provided by Austrian electronics musician Bruno Liberda and other guest appearances make this a wildly different experience from Strigalev's unique perspective, an artist who knows jazz's lineage but is unafraid to create his own path.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

I Messed Up At The End Of My Solo (Intro); Bio Active; Not Upset (coda 1); Bassgeingengeister; Some Thomas; Strange Party (coda 2); Plastiksackerl Im Wind; Little Struggle (coda 3); Strange Party; Reading Shakespeare; Second Hand; Heimwehharfe; Snail; Reading Shakespeare (coda 4); Hot Exactly; Strange Party (coda 5); Not Upset (coda 6); Are you Manageable?; The Slow Rub; Not Upset (coda 7).

Personnel

Zhenya Strigalev

saxophone, alto

Zhenya Strigalev: alto saxophone; Tim Lefebvre: electric bass; Eric Harland: drums; Plus guests: Bruno Liberda: electronics; Matt Penman: double bass; John Escreet: keyboards; Alex Bonney: trumpet; Charles Armstrong: voice intro.

Album information

Title: Never Group | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings Ltd

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Finding Love in an Oligarchy on a Dy...
< Previous

Aritmia
Next >

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.