Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Hera: Where My Complete Beloved Is

Hera: Where My Complete Beloved Is

By Eyal Hareuveni
March 16, 2012
View read count

It may be symbolic that the albums of the innovative Polish ensemble

Hera

" data-original-title="" title="">Hera are released by the label Multikulti. After all, the label's name follows

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Cherry's all-embracing vision of a new world music, a vision where distant and foreign traditions enrich each other, artificial genre distinctions and geographical boundaries are blurred, and stereotypical divisions between high and low, and ancient and modern art are unknown. Headed by composer and reed player Wac?aw Zimpel, Hera takes Cherry's concept even further on Where My Complete Beloved Is, the band's sophomore release.

The four compositions, all titled after the poem of the mystic Indian poet Kabir, "Abode of the Beloved," emphasize folk elements with their unique use of folk instruments. However, these motives are woven within rich and colorful textures that reference jazz and contemporary music in its most spiritual and free articulations.

The first piece, "In that place there is no happiness or unhappines," is composed by Zimpel, who plays the harmonium here. He employs the instrument in a manner similar to its use in the South Asian devotional Sufi music, Qawwali, setting a peaceful, hypnotic pulse as in the ensembles of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. There are also similarities in pianist

Myra Melford

piano
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Myra Melford drone use of the harmonium. Bassist

Robert Kusiolek / Anton Sjarov / Ksawery Wojcinski / Klaus Kugel

" data-original-title="" title="">Robert Kusiolek / Anton Sjarov / Ksawery Wojcinski / Klaus Kugel and tenor saxophonist Pawe? Posteremczak thicken this irresistible, meditative groove with passionate playing.

The ensemble-composed "No truth or untruth" features Zimpel on Slovakian overtone flute and Posteremczak on the trembita, a wooden Ukrainian alpine horn. They dance around imaginative, spare, shamanistic drumming by Pawe? Szpura. This folksy dance evolves beautifully when bassist Wójciński joins, solidifying its mesmerizing spiritual rhythm. "Neither sin or virtue," with a hypnotic drone from Sara Ka?u?na's tempura, evokes the spiritual jazz suites of

Alice Coltrane

piano
1937 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Alice Coltrane, but this ensemble-composed theme sounds much more elementary. Slowly, it gains more facets. Ceremonial percussive rattling and poetic bowing on the bass gel into a mesmerizing pulse. Zimpel and Posteremczak (on clarinet and soprano sax, respectively) join and improvise on the arresting, gentle dance, mirroring each other's repetitive gestures. The pulse gains more intensity and power until its cathartic release.

Where My Complete Beloved Is concludes with a traditional Russian folk song, "There is no day or night, no moon or sun," sung majestically by Maniucha Bikont. Zimpel's accompaniment on the harmonium, along with Posteremczak on the tarogato, suggests authentic, exotic, Eastern European sounds. Hera's magical sound world offers a unique way to experience music. Their music resonates with myriad cultures, deep feelings and expressive improvised playing.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

In that place there is no happiness or unhappines; No truth or untruth; Neither sin or virtue; There is no day or night, no moon or sun.

Personnel

Hera

Wac?aw Zimpel: clarinet, bass clarinet, harmonium, tarogato, Slovakian overtone flute; Pawe? Posteremczak: soprano and tenor saxophones, prepared piano, trembita; Ksawery Wójciński: double bass; Pawe? Szpura: drums, percussion; Maniucha Bikont: voice (4) Sara Ka?u?na: tampura (3).

Album information

Title: Where My Complete Beloved Is | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Multikulti Project

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Tomorrow
< Previous

Triologia
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.