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Gunter Gruner: The Invisible Landscape

By Mike Jurkovic
April 9, 2021
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An ardent student of no less a legend than

Andrew Cyrille

drums
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Cyrille, drummer/composer

" data-original-title="" title="">Gunter Gruner's fondness for jumpy, adroit, noir landscapes comes with a decisively Pink Panther stroll: lanky, animated, wise-ass but humble. His side-street detours to survey The Invisible Landscape involve more than the usual walk down free-form lanes.

With downtown, free-jazz giant

Daniel Carter

saxophone
b.1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Daniel Carter on sax reaching back to go further forward, Gruner's arrhythmic compositions involve the usual micro tonalities, fractured harmonics and head space, but never the oft resulting cacophony. Performed at the Vision Series in Harlem in May, 2007, Gruner and Carter mingle and manifest with saxophonist/flautist

Salim Washington

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Salim Washington, vibraphonist

Yusuke Yamamoto

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Yusuke Yamamoto, (who also supplies the electronica shade and forbearance), double bassist

Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic

bass, acoustic
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic, and trumpeter

Kirk Knuffke

trumpet

" data-original-title="" title="">Kirk Knuffke, whose street cred speaks widely for itself. (Collectively they've played

Federico Ughi

drums
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Federico Ughi, Allen Ginsberg,

Archie Shepp

saxophone, tenor
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Archie Shepp and

Ornette Coleman

saxophone, alto
1930 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Ornette Coleman among others.)

The six fall into place as one single unit of defined character on a trajectory not unlike water following its own intent yet casual course. Be it the sure footed Harlem shuffle of the title enjambment, the street-wise pastoral "Colors of Light," the slow scrawl of "Spinning the Clouds," the vigorous jumble of "A Time," (Carter goes for it all on the tail end of this one) the spidery honking of "Nova Express," or "Permanent Vacation" and it's blurry exotics, Gruner and company never leave you stranded. Fortunately for all involved, The Invisible Landscape lies in clear sight.

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Track Listing

Permanent Vacation; Another World Is Possible; Spinning the Clouds; Nova Express; A Time; Monolith; Fused Take Over; The Invisible Landscape; Colors of Light.

Personnel

Gunter Gruner

drums

Daniel Carter

saxophone

Salim Washington

saxophone, tenor

Kirk Knuffke

trumpet

Yusuke Yamanoto

vibraphone

Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic

bass, acoustic

Album information

Title: The Invisible Landscape | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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