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i n t e n t i o n i s t o p l e a s e a n d t o e n l i g h t e n t h
o s e l e s s a w a r e o f t h e t r u e m e a n i n g a n d q u a l
i t y o f m u s i c d u e t o d a m a g e s r e l a t e d t o m t v b
u t w i t h o u t f u r t h e r a d o f u f f e n s o f f e r y o u t
o i n c r e a s e y o u r k n o w l e d e g e a b o u t m u s i c a n
d i n t h a t w a y c r e a t e a b e t t e r w o r l d f o r o u r c
h i l d r e n t h e f o l l o w i n g m a s t e r p i e c e o f a r t
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a r t i s t dagaro-glerum-bennink
a l b u m strandjutters
l a b e l hatOLOGY
g e n r e jazz
r i p d a t e 20-11-2004
o r i g i n a l r e l 2003
s u p p l i e r ╡
s o u r c e cd
b i t r a t e VBR
e n c o d e r lame 3.90.3
r e l e a s e n o t e s
Daniele D'Agaro : tenor sax, clarinet
Ernst Glerum : contrabbass
Han Bennink : drums, percussion
In certain circles, Han Bennink has a bum rap. Trouble is, it's
largely his own damn fault. He's steeped himself in shtick for
decades and become an acquired taste, so much so that his enviable
skills behind the drum kit are frequently undermined by the need to
play inveterate clown. With his slapstick vaudevillian style of
improv he's earned the dubious distinction of being the most maverick
among a madcap cadre of Dutch peers that includes Willem Breuker and
Misha Mengelberg. Relatively few listeners will reserve patience for
the sort of percussionist that plays a shovel head with bent spoons
or sets his hi-hat on fire just to watch it immolate.
This track record for gonzo stage antics is part of what makes
Bennink's recent partnership with reedist Daniele D'Agaro and bassist
Ernst Glerum so refreshing. Their debut Strandjutters still contains
a fair share of humor and unconventionality, but they accomplish it
with a clear respect for form and a paramount price placed on
communication. Rendered in Peter Pfister's pristine sonics, the trio
is a positive joy to hear. On the opener "Divi-Divi", Glerum's
bulbous ambulating line blends with Bennink's steady, but subtle
brushes as D'Agaro's querulous clarinet flutters and trills through a
register-ratcheting statementùthis trio kicks up quite a sirocco of
sound.
The geriatric standard "Old Folks" is next, the disc's longest piece
by a narrow margin. It starts with an unaccompanied preface from
D'Agaro's quixotic tenor, where the soft flutter of keypads contrasts
acutely with overblown smears as Bennink joins in on hummingbird
brushes. Then suddenly the three are in dusky ballad territory, with
the saxophonist aping the plush velvet tones of Gene Ammons over a
slowly throbbing rhythm. Glerum's bantam bass strings also receive a
calisthenic workout in the closing minutes. The transformation is an
entirely convincing one that evokes the Chicago's South Side circa
1968 with uncanny accuracy.
Somber chamber tones rule the roost on D'Agaro's "En Plein Air",
which weds the austere side of the composer's clarinet to Glerum's
singing arco and sturdy pizzicato. Johnny Dyani's "I Wish You
Sunshine" proves an inspired tune choice as wellùa stirring spotlight
for Gerlum's nimbly plucking fingers. D'Agaro voices the melody with
a fulsome rasp on tenor before veering off into a highly animated
extemporization, while Bennink waits in the wings, adding a stray
accent here and there prior to a fully formed shuffle beat two
minutes in. A foursome from the D'Agaro songbook follows in
succession, including "The Prisoner", where Bennink wields his sticks
with leash off and scares up a boisterous array of rhythms with a
near impeccable sense of time. The program closes with an amorous
reading of Mercer Ellington's "The Girl In My Dreams Tries to Look
Like You".
Bennink is way beyond the point of having to answer to anyone. He's
been at the game for ages and has long since solidified his stature
in the history books. Even so, his new stab at maturity and, dare I
say decorum, is an extremely pleasing turn. With luck he'll choose to
extend it through continued associations with D'Agaro and Glerum, as
well as on his own.
...and remember: s t a y f u f f e n s f o r l i f e
t r a c k l i s t
divi-divi 04:50
old folks 09:50
en plein air 04:43
i wish you sunshine 05:28
the prisoner 07:23
talm 06:51
sempre libero 05:01
strandjutters 05:39
the girl in my dreams tries to look like you 06:53
56:38
MB 73,2
g r o u p n e w s
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g r e e t s
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s p e c i a l g r e e t s t o : SChiZO and FRAGMENT
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u y t h e s t u f f b e c a u s e t h i s i s m a d e b y r e a l a r
t i s t s a p a r t f r o m t h e m a i n s t r e a m p r o d u c t s
t h a t s i n t h e t o p 2 5 l i s t i n t h a t s t o r e y o u w i
l l v i s i t r i g h t a w a y t o s h o w y o u r s u p p o r t t o
t h e t r u e a r t i s t s o f m u s i c - t h e f u f f e n s a r t
i s t s t h a t s i n i t f o r t h e m u s i c n o t t h e m o n e y
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a l w a y s d o r e m e m b e r : s t a y f u f f e n s f o r l i f e
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