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I, Claudia
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I, Claudia
Current price: $20.99
Barnes and Noble
I, Claudia
Current price: $20.99
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This second release from
(and their first on the
label) not only offers
's great blend of instrumental textures from tenor sax/clarinet, vibraphone, accordion, acoustic bass, drums, and percussion, but also provides a satisfying stroll among multiple musical genres. Drummer
is the group's composer, and his clever pieces move effortlessly from funky
to
(both rhythmic and ambient), with some African elements and "new music" vocabulary thrown in for good measure. A good example of
's eclecticism (one of many) would be the piece
which was inspired by a quote from
in a
documentary. It opens, in
's words, with "the harmonic clouds and space of
," which eventually give way to a pensive
melody stated by accordion and vibes.
has been compared favorably with
, and it's an apt analogy as far as it goes, but
brings a different mix to the table, with a stronger
presence, more musical intellect, and a bit less of the slacker/stoner vibe embraced by the
crowd.
credentials aside,
's supple rhythmic patterns (sometimes with a dash of whimsy) form a link with the witty, "invented ethnic" music of
, although their minimalist tendencies also draw upon
or early
.
's percussive mallet work evokes the sound of classic
pieces such as
, but
can also swing mightily, especially when he,
, and bassist
grab onto a groove. On some pieces (or portions thereof),
's microtonal and/or multiphonic forays on clarinet and tenor also bring to mind various
experimental trios and quartets. Likewise, accordionist
wanders "outside" at times, pulling atonal bursts from his instrument, and pitch-blending with
's clarinet. But
's compositions are so deft and fluid that any movements toward the fringes are integrated into a broader musical palette that beguiles and seduces rather than throwing a thorny musical challenge at the listener. As a consequence,
manages to produce music that is mellow, easy on the ears, but also creative and intellectually stimulating. ~ Bill Tilland