artist : Two Sounds Ensemble
title : Inversions I-VI
date : 2004
label : Einnicken Records
cat# : era 0416
genre : Jazz
release date: 01.11.2008
street date : 05.12.2004
tracks : 06
bitrate : avg. 162kbps
size : 47,2 MB
source : CDDA
type : Album
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"Sweden's TSE-Two Sounds Ensemble-reigns in its free jazz
vision with laudable restraint, with a lovely wandering
progression in its instantly composed music that stays
appealingly within earshot of the lyrical and melodic musical
path, stretching structure with breaking it. /.../ One of the
most accessible and enjoyable free jazz sets this year."
Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz, August 12, 2004 (USA)
"The whole thing seems much more focused than entirely free
duets usually do - these guys obviously have played together
quite a bit, and have a good feel for each others' ranges.
There's plenty of swirling abstraction, as one might expect,
but they also keep things varied with some beautifully
lyrical passages and some gorgeous on the spot (presumably)
themes... it seems like they really explored the space and
found some interesting corners along the way. Definitely
recommended."
Charles Walker, Jazzcorner, June 2004 (USA)
"The duo TSE is Stefan Wistrand on tenor and soprano saxes
and Joakim Simonsson on piano, and came into existence in
2002 with the idea of playing jazz standards. But pure
improvisation took over and they always began in the unmade
and concluded in the unfinished, as the sleeve nicely puts
it. The approach is melodic, mostly unabrasive and in a free
adlib tempo the piano tone is bright and the recording well
projected."
Andy Hamilton, The Wire 4/2005 (England)
"Both are complete players on their instruments. Simonsson is
as adroit with inside-the-keyboard work and bashing tonal
clusters as with lingering over a sequence of wellplaced
consonant chords or pseudo fugue-like structures. Wistrand
has a very human sound on both tenor and soprano. His tenor
sound is full and throaty, even gruff at times. His soprano
is wispy and that quality is particularly effective in the
early moments of Inversion VI. At times, as on Inversion IV,
the music sounds almost composed. That should not necessarily
be a goal of free improvisation but its sometimes a pleasant
surprise when things of that nature happen. Inversions is a
solid series of duets, well worth hearing. The only gripe is
that the playing time is too short."
Robert Iannapollo, Cadence 2/2005 (USA)
"Inversions" classifies this duo as one that has some real
unique ideas and a distinctive way of delivering them.
Stefan's underplayed and understated playing only emphasizes
the beauty of Joakim's delicate piano delivery. As a duo, I
hear them doing passages that sound nothing more than a
simple recital of the scales. Then again, there are other
moments when you think these two are joined at the head. You
hear that these two musicians have obviously played with one
another a good number of times. I hear a lot of tenderness
and a good amount of delicacy as both players seemed to be in
a highly relaxed mode that day in January 2004 when this
session was put down to tape. Based on "Inversions", I'm
anticipating lots more great music from this duo in years to
come."s
Tom Sekowski, Gaz-Eta 34/2005 (Poland)
"Swedish duo TSE - Two Sounds Ensemble - formed by
saxophonist Stefan Wistrand and pianist Joakim Simonsson
sails in this new work for the Einnicken label between free
visions jazz, light melodic progressions and lyric echoes.
The two outline harmonic structures that are dilated and then
unfolded like burlaps to the wind, shattered when you least
expect it. They propose therefore six Inversions, with true
and own changes of route, cracks melody for a short or long
while, where the improvisational unit shadows each other
gracefully, and then they are withdrawn, hidden, permuted in
always new figures. Wistrand and Simonsson paints a music
always and only on the outside of the banal mainstream. From
there it come out free jazz of blue taste, Nordic, Arctic,
indeed free, which is rare to find, in these times, from two
young people. A jazz always fresh, charming, also full of
agreement if you want, but not of the tired kind.
Recommended."
Alekos Pandelis, Altrisuoni, November 2005 (Italy)
"THOUGHTFUL IMPROVISATION. This is a beautiful and melodic
record that treads with grace and feeling on already entered
improvisational grounds. To be considered a narrow musical
form the Two Sound Ensemble's interpretation of the idiom is
inviting and easy to listen to. They aren't afraid of the
known and dare to play a beautiful note without blushing."
Leif Carlsson, Lira 4/2004 (Sweden)
"'TSE presents a poetic music with a beautiful and eventful
inner landscape, where piano and wind instruments co-operate
surprisingly well by capturing each others needs of path
finding leaps with supporting harmonies."
Stefan Nilson, Nerikes Allehanda, June 21, 2004 (Sweden)
http://www.myspace.com/twosoundsensemble
http://www.einnickenrecords.com/
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01-Inversion I 01:55
02-Inversion II 06:21
03-Inversion III 01:31
04-Inversion IV 12:38
05-Inversion V 02:43
06-Inversion VI 14:29
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39:37 min