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Transatlantic Five: Transitions

By Mark Corroto
October 20, 2023
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There is an expression in meditation for when an individual is concentrating on their breath, "it's a simple practice, but not easy." A similar statement might be made about Transitions by the Transatlantic Five. The music is not simple, but it is easy. Easy, at least for this quintet.

The American duo of

Ken Vandermark

saxophone
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Ken Vandermark (tenor saxophone, clarinet) and trumpeter

Nate Wooley

trumpet
b.1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Nate Wooley crossed an ocean (thus the name) to perform and record with the German trio of vibraphonist

Christopher Dell

vibraphone

" data-original-title="" title="">Christopher Dell, double bassist

Christian Ramond

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian Ramond, and drummer Klaus Kugel. The three Europeans have previously collaborated with

Theo Jorgensmann

clarinet
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Theo Jorgensmann and

Sabir Mateen

saxophone, tenor
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Sabir Mateen. Dell can also be heard with

Christian Lillinger

drums
b.1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Christian Lillinger and

Jonas Westergaard

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Jonas Westergaard. Ramond and Kugel released the self-titled Yamabiko Quintet (Nemu Records, 2023) with

Frank Paul Schubert

saxophone
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Paul Schubert,

Michel Pilz

clarinet
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Michel Pilz, and Reiner Winterschladen.

The quintet takes its impulse from

Eric Dolphy

woodwinds
1928 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Eric Dolphy's 1964 recording Out To Lunch! (Blue Note), as is quite apparent with the opener "Around Town" written by Dell. It is one of two composed pieces, Vandermark's "En Attente" being the other. Dell's "Around Town" parallels that Dolphy recording, which included

Bobby Hutcherson

vibraphone
1941 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Hutcherson,

Freddie Hubbard

trumpet
1938 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Freddie Hubbard,

Richard Davis

bass, acoustic
1930 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Davis, and

Tony Williams

drums
1945 - 1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Williams. From this point of departure, the quintet accelerates by a factor of sixty years with the six freely improvised "Transitions."

The easy complexity comes from the quintet's ability to navigate in a totally free environment yet create complete and compelling music. Dell, Ramond, and Kugel are confident collaborators with the unique voicings of the Americans. Wooley's unique trumpet language and Vandermark's mastery of clarinet and saxophone fit hand-in-glove with the German trio. Dell's vibraphone can be traded off with another musician or create atmospheres supportive of the creative spark. The same is true of Ramond and Kugel who are excellent at musical dialogues. Sixty years after Dolphy, the marriage of free jazz in a coherent chamber setting has been achieved.

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Track Listing

Around Town; Transitions I; Transitions II; Transitions III; En Attente; Transitions IV; Transitions V; Transitions VI.

Personnel

Nate Wooley

trumpet

Ken Vandermark

saxophone

Christopher Dell

vibraphone

Christian Ramond

bass

Klaus Kugel

drums

Album information

Title: Transitions | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: NEMU Records

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