Graewe / Reijseger / Hemingway -- Continuum

Squaredancecalling Steve · April-22nd-2006, 02:33 PM

Continuum (Winter and Winter 2006)

Georg Graewe -- piano
Ernst Reijseger -- cello
Gerry Hemingway -- drums, percussion, marimbaphone, celesta

GREAT album!! Wide range of music that is unfailingly interesting, challenging and rewarding. The album continually arrests one's attention, surprises and delights. All three musicians are in top form.

The same trio did Saturn Cycle 12 years ago, and I like that one, but this seems to me to be a much better album. In some ways it reminds me more of Graewe's Concert In Berlin, which featured dozens of dazzling miniatures, each with its own special musical idea, less pointilistic and abstract than most of Graewe's work. In this album, it's as though he takes a powerful single idea, suitable for one of his miniatures, but allows it to develop and morph, all in unexpected ways, filled with with ideas, moods and sounds that stopped me in my tracks.

Reijseger is phenomenal, and takes the lead in providing the few powerful darker moods on the album with some very edgy noir romanticism. Hemingway on celsta is a treat, especially when he's a foil for Graewe in one of the "little music boxes gone mad" sections, and of course Hemingway's the focal point for the many complicated rhythms in the album. Graewe sounds less formal and more melodic (we're talking relatively here) than on the three other albums of his I have, or the time I saw him live (in the company of my son and Brian O), and there's a playful warmth to his performance here that makes this my favorite of his recordings.

This is my favorite trio album since at least Scrapbook (Parker/ Bang/ Drake), my album of the year so far, and my highest recommendation for all you all to hear!

MRS · April-24th-2006, 11:18 AM

Sold! I've everything from this ensemble save Two Nights in Berlin and very much look forward to hearing this. Thanks Steve!

Dan G · April-24th-2006, 01:11 PM

One of my favorite long-standing groups, I'm glad to hear this trio got together again. Their last record, Counterfactuals, was very good though I think Saturn Cycle is the gem of the bunch. But even Counterfactuals was from the last century.

steve - Is the new disc studio or concert?

and michael - what is 2 nights in Berlin? I think I must have missed that one.

Squaredancecalling Steve · April-24th-2006, 01:20 PM

Dan: It's a studio disc. Almost zero information in the liner notes, which are mostly artsy variations on the cover picture. And of course that brilliant Winter and Winter packaging guarantees that the disc falls out of the case every time you handle it.

But the music is sublime!

MRS · April-24th-2006, 01:25 PM

I believe it's recorded in a concert hall in München, not sure if there was any audience. So fired up for this.

Zwei Nächte in Berlin is from '93. I emailed Gerry every other week about tracking down a copy (this is five or so years ago) and he finally sent me a burn which was promptly misplaced. This trio is the shit. Only one I don't enjoy regularly is Flex 27 but miniatures in such a context can be a rough ride. This week I'll take View From Points West as my fave.

Dan G · April-24th-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRS

This week I'll take View From Points West as my fave.

I think we've argued about this before! Great music, but the recording quality drops it behind a couple of the others.

Captain Hate · April-24th-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squaredancecalling Steve

Dan: It's a studio disc. Almost zero information in the liner notes, which are mostly artsy variations on the cover picture. And of course that brilliant Winter and Winter packaging guarantees that the disc falls out of the case every time you handle it.

Ain't that da truth!!! When I saw Steve mention this on WAYLT my WTF flag rose quickly. Brother Schau and I have exchanged ecstatic emails (and a much appreciated burn) singing the praises of this trio. Since it had been so long since we'd heard from 'em I figgered they'd fallen victim to some petty spat which have been known to happen to musicians.

This is also firmly in place on a short-term Cadence/DMG/Verge/Wherever bomb.

Gary Sisco · April-24th-2006, 07:02 PM

Thanks for the alert. Great, great trio. I'll definitely be picking this one up.

Sergio Zamora · April-24th-2006, 07:53 PM

It's on the list.

stonemonkts · April-24th-2006, 08:21 PM

I'm a big fan of the trio too. Saturn Cycle is a sublime recording. I'll be anxious to read what you guys think after you hear it.

Felix · April-25th-2006, 12:00 AM

Strangely, someone I know just gave me two of Graewe's albums today, Impressions of Monk and the duet with John Butcher, Light's View. I look forward to hearing them, since I'm not familiar with his work (or Butcher's, for that matter).

stonemonkts · April-25th-2006, 12:10 AM

I think Impressions of Monk is brilliant.

gnhrtg · April-25th-2006, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonemonkts

I think Impressions of Monk is brilliant.

I agree.

Continuum goes on my list as well, even though I ended up trading the only other disc I've heard by the trio, Sonic Fiction. Maybe it just wasn't the right time (bought it in NYC along with another couple of dozen discs and perhaps you need more time and calm to appreciate that album) but I found it unengaging. On the other hand, it hasn't been mentioned as a favorite on this thread so far either.

Gary Sisco · April-25th-2006, 06:46 AM

It's a favorite of mine.

gnhrtg · April-25th-2006, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

It's a favorite of mine.

Knew it

or maybe more like this

MRS · April-25th-2006, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Felix

John Butcher, Light's View.

Let us know what you think of this -- I love it, great foils.

Dan G · April-25th-2006, 10:24 AM

I'm curious to hear what you think of Light's View also. It just doesn't do much for me, maybe because it has such high standards to meet, given the overall quality of what else these two have done. I was looking forward to it when it came out, but was disappointed and haven't played it in years.

Impressions of Monk, however, is stunning. Just what a good tribute should be - no trying to sound like Monk, just taking the creative spirit and running with it.

MRS · April-25th-2006, 10:46 AM

I think it's a perfect setting for two improvisers I sometimes struggle to find the perfect setting for (much less so for Butcher). The interplay is more oblique, Georg's jagged sparring works as good as I've heard it in a sparse context. I inevitably contrast it with the misfire that is Shooters and Bowlers, maybe that's part of why I've been keen on it.

MRS · April-25th-2006, 11:35 PM

. . .listening to Counterfactuals right now, such strong medicine. Listen to Soft Lights. . .Sweet Music then listen to this, I know it's just one fickle bloke of a link but you know what I mean, Clusone v. this garrulous, deranged chamber shit with a Hamburg Steinway 3? Hooooooooooo!

Dan G · April-26th-2006, 01:16 PM

Ordered Continuum today. Hopefully it gets here by the weekend because I really want to hear it asap and I'm out of town next week for work.

Felix · April-27th-2006, 10:37 AM

I listened to Impressions of Monk about twice this week. It stands as one of the best reinterpretations of jazz compositions I heard since Anthony Braxton's Charlie Parker Project. This is as far from the current wyntonist revivalism as you can get. It takes highly skilled improvisers to only hint at a theme (and sometimes only in the middle of a long, sustained group improvisation) as the trio does on "I Mean You". The more litteral references to Monk's themes are welcome buoys for the listener, and on some of the pieces I still have to figure exactly what they took from the original compositions, and I guess I'll hear new things every time I listen to it. A good sign.

As for Light's View, I'm playing it right now, after sampling a few tracks earlier this week. It sounds like improvised music of the highest order, by two guys who know just what it's about. Butcher and Graewe seem to share a certain conception (very european). The saxophonist (perhaps inevitably) has something of Evan Parker and also (on soprano) of Anthony Braxton's phrasing. The Penguin guide refers to a "chilly rigour" and calls the music "glacial" and with "no residual jazz thinking". True, perhaps, but the two musicians blend well together, and you certainly feel a forward motion, though neither "swing" or "jazz", but who would expect it? That might not be an album I return often to, but I'm glad to have it.

gnhrtg · April-27th-2006, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary Sisco

[on Sonic Fiction] It's a favorite of mine.

I hadn't traded this after all. I was looking through my hatART's this morning to bring a couple along for office enjoyment and there it was. I'll listen to it soon in the calm confines of my apartment in Fontainebleau (and expect to be floored thus moving on to ordering Continuum and others sooner).

jaka · April-27th-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gnhrtg

I hadn't traded this after all. I was looking through my hatART's this morning to bring a couple along for office enjoyment and there it was. I'll listen to it soon in the calm confines of my apartment in Fontainebleau (and expect to be floored thus moving on to ordering Continuum and others sooner).

Hi Gokhan,

Speaking of purchasing Continuum. What's your source for W&Ws? They're generally awfully expensive around here, when simply available...

gnhrtg · April-28th-2006, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaka

Hi Gokhan,

Speaking of purchasing Continuum. What's your source for W&Ws? They're generally awfully expensive around here, when simply available...

True. I try my luck with amazon.fr marketplace sellers (currently there are six new/like new copies available for 10-15 euros) and stop at Jussieu whenever I can, which lately has been as seldom as once a month unfortunately.

Otherwise, and if you're in no hurry, verge(music dot com) can backorder them, at 20 CAD - about 14 euros, plus shipping.

MRS · May-3rd-2006, 09:35 PM

Not a flagrant departure from 12+ years past, but a fine, fine album after one listen. Dan, this is recorded so perfectly, the anti-Points West!

Thanks for making me aware of this, Steve.

Gary Sisco · May-5th-2006, 07:37 AM

I received this one the other day and listened to it last night a couple of times and really dug it.

Also agree about the recording job itself -- and please note it was recorded in one (count 'em) day and mixed and mastered in one other -- fabulous job. It has high quality sound.

A very welcome addition to the shelves, all the way around.