Two new reviews from DOWNTOWN MUSIC GALLERY…
DMG Newsletter for November 16, 2012
http://www.downtownmusicgallery.com/Main/index.htm
ENDLESS PIE [JEFF KAISER/PHIL SKALLER] – Endless Pie [2 CD set] (pfMentum 072; USA) Jeff Kaiser on trumpet, flugelhorn and electronics and Phil Skaller on prepared piano. Jeff is a restless explorer on trumpet and flugelhorn, always searching for other like-minded musicians to work with. Kaiser has done a number of duo discs before this, each one unique depending on his partner. Mr. Skaller seems to work mostly inside the piano, banging on the strings with assorted objects. Kaiser continually alters his sound with mutes or electronic devices, as well as playing some strange synth sounds. This is a particularly intense and focused duo, always working tightly together, complimenting and pushing each other. Although this music is completely (?) improvised, the duo often create patterns which sounds closer to modern chamber music. Reminding me at times of recent discs from Ernesto Martinez and David Rosenboom. This is an extraordinary duo and one of this year’s most challenging efforts on a variety of levels. – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery 2 CD set for $14
CHARISMATA [JEFF KAISER/GREGORY TAYLOR] – The Desert Fathers (pfMentum 070; USA) Jeff Kaiser on quartertone trumpet and laptop and Gregory Taylor on laptop. This disc was recorded live in a studio at STEIM in Amsterdam. Since the last time we heard from pfMentum founder a few years back, Jeff Kaiser has released another three discs of his own duos, a trio and a few collaborations. With more than a half dozen duo efforts released, Mr. Kaiser has done it again with another couple of winners. The quartertone trumpet which has a fourth valve and can play microtones is relatively rare. The only one that I’ve seen & heard was played by Thomas Heberer. Since Mr. Kaiser uses different extended techniques and plays laptop as done his partner, it is difficult to tell who is doing what outside of the familiar odd trumpet sounds. The STEIM studio sounds like a high end affair since there is good deal of depth and dynamics to these sounds. Is that feedback, magnified static or trumpet making those extreme sounds?!? This music is intense, powerful, sometimes brittle, often bent, swirling electronics and twisted trumpet sounds. Mr. Kaiser keeps digger deeper and coming up with large variety of odd sounds from his trumpet, often reminding me of Nate Wooley or Peter Evans, both of whom are also restless explorers who can match wits with any acoustic or electronic instruments. This disc is more than an hour in length and I found myself at the edge of my seat throughout wondering what they would come up with next. – Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery CD $12