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Lesley Mok: The Living Collection

By Hrayr Attarian
May 20, 2023
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Percussionist and composer Lesley Mok is a restless explorer who has also been called a sound artist. However, that designation does not give a full picture of her creative vision. Mok deftly maintains the singular balance between the notated and the improvised as well as abstraction and accessibility, thus breaking out of narrow genreist designations, to make music which is urgently relevant. All this and more is clearly demonstrated on her debut as a leader, the provocative The Living Collection.

The nine-part suite opens with "It Wants" an eerie and atmospheric "duet." Mok experiments with the sonic range of her kit while multi-instrumentalist

Weston Olencki

electronics

" data-original-title="" title="">Weston Olencki creates electronic soundscapes. Slowly the other band members enter, leading to a dynamic camaraderie and a dramatic ambience. Pianist

Cory Smythe

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Smythe contributes forlorn, wistful cascades of notes, bassist

Florian Herzog

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Florian Herzog haunting reverberations, and the winds & brass long mournful lines. Violist

Joanna Mattrey

viola

" data-original-title="" title="">Joanna Mattrey and cellist

Aliya Ultan

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Aliya Ultan's supple and graceful bowing stands in intriguing contrast to the horns' haunting tones.

The titles of the tracks together form a single sentence. The source is poet Jorie Graham's "Scarcely There." Both the individual musicians' and the ensemble's performances maintain this thematic unity. Trombonist

Kalun Leung

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Kalun Leung and saxophonist

David Leon

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">David Leon each improvise on "Again, All" with controlled passion. Meanwhile Mok's thundering beats and the angular cadence of the rhythm trio paint a darkly contemplative picture.

On "It's Silvery Out of Tomorrow" trumpeter

Adam O'Farrill

trumpet
b.1994

" data-original-title="" title="">Adam O'Farrill blows solos with warmth and lyricism while Mok and Herzog respond with angular flourishes. As the interplay grows quieter and more dissonant, it fades into the subsequent tune, the introspective "And Ramping-up Now." The shortest on the album, at under 2 minutes, it is a miniature, futuristic chamber piece featuring Smythe, Mattrey and Ultan.

The concluding "Quite a Spectacular Dusk" which follows is cinematic, with its variety of interweaving sonic threads which remain quite harmonious nevertheless. Saxophonists Leon and

Yuma Uesaka

saxophone, alto
b.1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Yuma Uesaka first engage with O'Farrill in hypnotic refrains and then overlap their phrases with those of the strings to an ethereal effect. Uesaka's extemporization emerges from this mystical backdrop which Smythe's chiming keys and Mok's resonant beats punctuate. A few pillowy growls from Leung, and O'Farrill's lyrical trumpet enhance this spiritual mood.

On this vibrant and multilayered recording Mok showcases her talents and skills to their fullest, and what a revelation it is. This is an exquisite and stimulating work which is every bit as memorable as the iconic poem it references.

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Track Listing

It Wants; Its Furious Place; Again, All; Floral And Full; Of Appearance; Full Of Its Fourth Wall; Its Silvery After-Tomorrow; And Ramping-Up Now; Quite A Spectacular Dusk.

Personnel

Lesley Mok

drums

David Leon

saxophone, alto

Adam O'Farrill

trumpet

Kalun Leung

trombone

Yuma Uesaka

saxophone, alto

Cory Smythe

piano

Joanna Mattrey

viola

Aliya Ultan

cello

Weston Olencki

electronics

Additional Instrumentation

Florian Herzog: bass; David Leon: soprano saxophone, flute, alto flute; Yuma Uesaka: Bb clarinet, contraalto clarinet

Album information

Title: The Living Collection | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: American Dreams

Lesley Mok �� Lesley Mok / Selma Savolainen / Cory Smythe / Helen Svoboda - Live At Scholes Street Studio

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