Gasser 3: Espresso Galattico

The Gasser 3 is Jürg Gasser on tenor saxophone, Peter K. Frey on bass, and Dieter Ulrich on drums. As near as I can tell, Espresso Galattico is Gasser’s first recording since working with the large Swiss band Skyline back in 1991. His gruff sound and investigatory approach to improvisation are beautifully complemented by bassist Frey, most often heard as half of the long-running Kontrabassduo Daniel Studer/Peter K. Frey, and drummer Ulrich, who has been active on the Swiss free jazz scene since his recording debut with the Urs Blochlinger Tettet in 1985. This trio makes quiet and tightly focused freely improvised music, with the occasional foray into more intense modes of expression. On temptations and off we go, we encounter some powerhouse saxophone playing by Gasser, who’s clearly been hard at work while staying away from recording microphones for more than a quarter century. There is a decided emphasis on rapid responses within the trio, and while the notion that improvisers are having a musical conversation might be a trifle clichéd, that idea is effectively exemplified by units like the Gasser Trio. It’s always a pleasure to hear committed musicians in an egalitarian foray into free improvisation, and that’s precisely what Espresso Galattico delivers. Recommended.
Leo CD LR 845; Jürg Gasser (ts) Peter K. Frey (b) Dieter Ulrich (d, buegel); poss. Friedrichshafen, Germany, August 22-23, 2015; espresso galattico/ temptations/ ewig währt am längsten/ slow fox/ softly, but .../ talking/ joke/ off we go/ ciao; 51:58. www.leorecords.com

Rajna Swaminathan: Of Agency and Abstraction

Rajna Swaminathan plays mrudangam, the two-headed drum of the Carnatic music tradition in India. On Of Agency and Abstraction, Swaminathan drives her RAJAS Ensemble in a thoroughly winning fusion of Indian and jazz improvisation. Trumpeter Amir ElSaffar, tenor saxophonist Maria Grand, guitarist Miles Okazaki and bassist Stephen Crump are no strangers to cross-cultural endeavors, and they bring their combined experiences to bear on Swaminathan’s captivating compositions. Add violinist Anjna Swaminathan and vocalist Ganavya Doraiswamy for a immersive experience with a dozen original compositions. Swaminathan’s delicately nuanced hand drumming guides the music with a firm sense of direction. The instrumental focus shifts from tune to tune, with the singing violin of Anjna Swaminathan often out in front. Noteworthy passages, and there are many, include the arco bass and guitar introduction to Vigil, Doraiswamy’s keening vocal on the relaxed Departures, the swirl of trumpet, violin and tenor sax on Communitas, Okazaki’s fractured guitar solo on Retrograde, the relaxed interplay between Grand’s tenor and Swaminathan’s violin on the loping Rush, Grand’s expansive tenor solo on Vagabonds, and throughout, Swaminathan’s invigorating rhythmic complexity. Since the Fifties, there have been more than a few projects that have combined jazz and Indian music in various proportions. In her compositions and well-crafted arrangements, Swaminathan’s music achieves a seamless blend that’s uniquely satisfying. Absolutely recommended.
Biophilia Records; RAJAS Ensemble: Amir ElSaffar (tpt) Maria Grand (ts) Anjna Swaminathan (vln) Miles Okazaki (g) Stephan Crump (b) Rajna Swaminathan (mrudangam) Ganavya Doraiswamy (vcl); Astoria, NY, December 18-20, 2017; Offering/ Peregrination/ Vigil/ Departures/ Ripple Effect/ Communitas/ Retrograde/ Chasing the Gradient/ Rush/ Vagabonds/ Tangled Hierarchy/ Yathi; 72:09. biophiliarecords.com

Claudio Scolari, Daniele Cavalca & Simone Scolari: Natural Impulse

Restless energy and a dark lyricism are the key characteristics of Natural Impulse, an intriguing hour of sounds generated by the trio of Claudio Scolari, Daniele Cavalca & Simone Scolari. Various combinations of instruments underlie the inquisitive trumpet played by Simone Scolari. Cavalca and Claudio Scolari play all the other instruments, and are credited with composing and producing the music. From those facts, I would hazard a guess that they conjured up the backing tracks and then had Simone Scolari play over them. I suppose it’s also possible that they played live with trumpet, then overdubbed additional material. But no matter how they put this music together, it happily retains a spontaneous feeling. The unpredictably mutating mesh of synths, bass, drums and percussion, piano, electric piano, and vibes is endlessly engaging and full of surprising juxtapositions. Chasing Inspiration is a favorite, with trumpeter Scolari soaring over the spacious synthesizer and drum backing. The trumpeter lays out on the title track, a slowly percolating groove featuring Cavalca’s piano with overdubbed bass and drums. He also sits out the synth-heavy and spaced out Uptown Night Trip. Vibes, drums and synths begin the absorbing Insomnia, which develops into a stuttering rhythm as Scolari’s trumpet matches wits with Cavalca’s synthesizer gurgles and beeps. Hard to describe, perhaps, but Natural Impulse is an easily accessible and fertile mix of electric and acoustic sounds. A fun disc, easily recommended.
Principal CSDC 06; Simone Scolari (tpt) Claudio Scolari (d, perc, synth) Daniele Cavalca (synth, Fender Rhodes el p, vib, b; d on*); no recording information; Unknown Destination*/ American Skyscrapers/ Chasing Inspiration*/ Natural Impulse/ Moon Mood/ Dear John/ Uptown Night Trip*/ Insomnia*/ Over the Horizon/ South Hemisphere; 60:56. www.claudioscolari.com