ZFP Quartet - Music for Strings, Percussion & Electronics

[Frisco]

ZFP Quartet
Music for Strings, Percussion, & Electronics
Live in Guimaraes, Portugal November 2002
Bruce's Fingers BF 59

Carlos Zingaro - violin & electronics
Marcio Mattos - cello & electronics
Simon H. Fell - double bass
Mark Sanders - drums & percussion

If you like the music of strings, coming out of the European free improvised music tradition, check this one out. Simon H. Fell continues to produce some of the most compelling contemporary music, both in the composed and improvised settings. His Bruce's Fingers label responsible for much of his recorded work.

This one is a collective project and probably not much in the way of written music, but I would imagine much understood direction between the four musicians involved. The music, as noted on the slim cardboard back cover, is a single improvised piece, totaling something just over 50 minutes. However, the music is sectioned off into nine index points that begin specific segments of the piece. My only wish here is that there were a way to cue the disc at these index points but there is not. As the music requires some deep concentration, it is somewhat difficult to remain with it in one sitting, but it does make it easier with the index points.

There is so much happening in this music. It is often hard to distinguish just who is doing what and where the electronics are fitting in. The approach to all of the strings, percussion, and electronics is very judicious, although the four do often come together for moments of collective improvising. Sometimes that collective comes off as quiet and soft, sometimes intense.

The piece begins with the cymbals of Mark Sanders and the strings alternating between sharp arco and pizzicato lines. Each of the strings steps out front for brief moments and allow one another to do so. Sanders is striking some sort of bells or metal to lead into the second segment with the strings playing very softly in the upper register of their instruments. They continue to scrape out these little sounds but the music builds in volume, only to come back down and create a sense of ebb and flow to the music.

The third segment enters with a cello/bass dialog and features some electronic sounds before a very melodic cello segment. The double bass with Sanders using brushes lead into the fourth segment while the ensemble leads into an all out collective improv. This winds down into the fifth segment where some ambient sounds invade the space. Sanders once again striking some sort of metal and using the floor toms. The strings flow eerily.

Zingaro begins the sixth segment with one of the few solo spots on violin. The bass and percussion play in the style of a more lively free improv piece and there is also a spot where the cello comes to the forefront. As the piece segs into segment seven, the strings use the technique (what you call it I have no idea) where the fingers barely touch the strings to create a ringing, vibrant sound. As the ensemble enters the final segment, I was fully expecting a rise in volume and intensity but was surprised to hear them slowly wind it down with low rumblings from the bass, electronics and percussion and take the piece out on a mellow note, slowly dissipating into the air.

A very enjoyable listen, especially if you can devote close to an hour of intense listening in a quiet surrounding.