Claudia Quintet - I, Claudia

[mke]

John Hollenbeck - d
Drew Gress - b
Matt Moran - vib
Ted Reichmann - accordion
Chris Speed - cl, ts
(Cuneiform)

My first time through this, I found it a bit tedious, then on my second listen, midway through the first or second track, my ears shifted and I quite enjoyed it as Downtown Easy Listening Chamber Music. Not much of a coherent opinion at the moment, but there's nice use made of the vibes/accordion/clarinet combination

[mke]

Ben Ratliff says:

John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet gives off a slinkier, mistier feeling than Mr. Charlap's trio. That's mostly a function of instrumentation, which tends here toward the mellower end of the spectrum. Vibraphone and xylophone (Matt Moran), accordion (Ted Reichman) and clarinet (Chris Speed) play principal roles, and the parts of the band shift around like tectonic plates. In a typical chunk of the group's new album, "I, Claudia" (Cunieform), an ostinato figure on the vibraphone gradually gives way to clarinet and accordion; there's a sliding-off into kind of sound-soup, and then a redeveloped version of the vamp begins again.

Nobody promised you this would be jazz; it just happens that most of the musicians in the band have their training in that area, so you get the vestigial feeling of jazz from the tone of Drew Gress's acoustic bass, Mr. Moran's occasional harmonic improvisations in a given rhythm and Mr. Hollenbeck's use of brushes.

Instead of swing, the pulse tends toward the even, hammering one of baroque, Eastern European folk dance, Philip Glass and drum-and-bass. But sometimes it's slow funk. And sometimes there's no pulse at all. A track called "Can You Get Through This Life With a Good Heart?" begins with discrete chord clouds, a little bit after the style of Morton Feldman, joined together by some sort of buttery radio-transmitter static.

Whatever it is, Mr. Hollenbeck has gotten at a special group sound, and he's such a sensitive, technically deft drummer — you notice the steadiness of his timekeeping right away — that his music can just be what he wants it to be; it's curious, and sometimes lightly funny without sour, satiric edges. It doesn't need alignments with jazz or rock or anything else to vindicate itself.

[Tom Storer]

Trust the esteemed jazz correspondent of the New York Times to spot a technically deft drummer. That steady timekeeping is a dead giveaway. ;-)

[mke]

You like Hollenbeck, no?

[Tom Storer]

I confess he leaves me kind of cold. Technical deftness notwithstanding, his drum sound isn't "jazzy" enough for me. He's certainly talented and creative--Brookmeyer swears by him, for example, and he doesn't praise just anyone. But there's something about the sound he gets from the instrument that rubs me the wrong way. It doesn't have the warmth and texture I like in jazz drums. Just a subjective thing.

[Captain Hate]

I like this disc better than I thought I would; I dunno why but I was kind of skeptical before I listened to it (having Chris Speed on anything usually sets my meter to the "Strongly Dislike" area) but it won me over starting with the first cut. And I hate to agree with Ratliff on anything; in fact I couldn't bring myself to read it completely but I assume he regarded it positively.

[andyt]

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

I dunno why but I was kind of skeptical before I listened to it

Maybe it's because you are Captain Hate!

[Clay Fink]

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

I like this disc better than I thought I would; I dunno why but I was kind of skeptical before I listened to it (having Chris Speed on anything usually sets my meter to the "Strongly Dislike" area) but it won me over starting with the first cut. And I hate to agree with Ratliff on anything; in fact I couldn't bring myself to read it completely but I assume he regarded it positively.

So what's with Chis Speed. Mr. Hate?

[Dan G]

Originally Posted by Captain Hate

I like this disc better than I thought I would; I dunno why but I was kind of skeptical before I listened to it (having Chris Speed on anything usually sets my meter to the "Strongly Dislike" area)

Gotta say I love posts that start like this! If you didn't think you'd like it, and generally dislike one of the players (I agree with you on that, btw), why buy it? Some masochistic thing, or just too much money to spend?

Of course I do the same thing, but usually only used not new, and am trying to figure out why.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by Clay Fink

So what's with Chis Speed. Mr. Hate?

I just don't find him interesting; saw him once with Tim Berne's Bloodcount and he was, imo, a very weak link. His playing was not up to the others' level. Maybe it was just a bad night but I haven't found his playing on discs other than this one compelling at all. BWTFDIK, Brother Fink.

Dan, I assure you that I don't have too much money to spend on music; this was one that I borrowed from somebody with a radio show. A kindred soul on Speed; spread de wuhd!!!

Welcome aboard, andyt!!

[Nate Dorward]

Any comparisons to the group's first disc, anyone? I'd had a kind of "nice enough, but not really doing a lot for me" reaction to the first disc (though liked it better than the other Hollenbeck things released at the some time, like that weird one with the setting of Martin Luther King).

[mke]

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Any comparisons to the group's first disc, anyone? I'd had a kind of "nice enough, but not really doing a lot for me" reaction to the first disc (though liked it better than the other Hollenbeck things released at the some time, like that weird one with the setting of Martin Luther King).

I've listened to the second one more than the first, but I find the new one less dry and "serious contemporary music"-y.

[trevor james]

It is a subjective thing, I agree...I find his sound unusual in it's sonic clarity-maybe that sounds cold to you....? In other words, he can be busy, but he never gets in the way.
The new claudia disc is incredible to my ears, revolutionary, even, easily the best recording I've heard this year!
To me it is completetly accessible, like good pop music...
but then again, I love Chris Speed, at least with this group...who has a warmer clarinet sound...like butter!

[trevor james]

you've obviously never heard him play live...live he sounds similar to Jim Black...

[mke]

Originally Posted by trevor james

To me it is completetly accessible, like good pop music...

I don't know if it's the best record of the year, but I agree that there are some accessible, kinda poppy elements in there, used in a creative way.

you've obviously never heard him play live...live he sounds similar to Jim Black...

Well, I've seen Speed live and he sounded nothing like Black. But I suspect you were talking about Hollenbeck...

[Fred K]

I didn't think Hollenbeck sounded like Jim Black when I saw him live, but I noticed the similarities on Cuong Vu's 2 CDs, Bound (which Black is on) and Come Play With Me (which Hollenbeck is on). When I first heard Come Play With Me I didn't look at the personnel and assumed it was Jim Black before I read the liner notes.

I like Hollenbeck a lot and hope he has more chances to record with the Claudia Quintet and his other projects.

[Clay Fink]

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Any comparisons to the group's first disc, anyone? I'd had a kind of "nice enough, but not really doing a lot for me" reaction to the first disc (though liked it better than the other Hollenbeck things released at the some time, like that weird one with the setting of Martin Luther King).

"The Drum Major Instinct". I thought it was interesting. My wife thought it was anoying. I guess that makes it similar to most of the stuff I listen to.

I saw tha Claudia Quintet live and I thought they were exceptional. Hollenbeck, however, doesn't remind me of Jim Black at all, unless you were talking about Jimmy Carl Black. Speed was OK, I thought.

[trevor james]

again to my ears I disagree with some of the previous comments.
To me Speed is the most sensitive, group-friendly tenor player in the
current "downtown" scene.
He fits his sound INTO the others in a seamless way.
That is why Hollenbeck, Jim Black, Tim Berne, Dave Douglas, Laurie Anderson, Bonnie Raitt among others hire him. He playing is very unselfish and not ego-driven like so many horn players. I asked again, WHO HAS A CLARINET SOUND AS SWEET AS HIS??? I have heard great classical player who do not have that beautiful sound.

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by trevor james

I asked again, WHO HAS A CLARINET SOUND AS SWEET AS HIS???

Well, not trying to make comparisons or anything, but Michael Moore has a gorgeous sound on clarinet.

[LeMo]

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

Well, not trying to make comparisons or anything, but Michael Moore has a gorgeous sound on clarinet.

Yes, Michael Moore, of couse.
You can add to the bag Louis Sclavis, Ben Goldberg, André Jaume, Tony Coe, Marty Ehrlich, Avram Fefer and... Ken Vandermark.
Yes, even Ken Vandermark (Free Fall: "Furnace" Wobbly Rail).

[Steve Reynolds]

hav't hear it - but I am a partial Speed fan - at times, he is fine, at other times, he seems to run out of his sound

thank you Sergio for mentioning the clarinet work of the great Michael Moore

[Gary Sisco]

I heard them live once and left with the feeling that it was music I respect more than dig. Except for Mat Moran, who was really great. I'm not big on Speed, myself. I have one CD by Hollenbeck (bought at the show) that I like alright. Can't remember the title right now, but it's the one with both Ellery and Ray Anderson on it, doing cameos (the reason I chose that one from the several at the merch table). There's an insane track on it where the cats play while a recording of one of Martin Luther King's more bizarre speeches runs on. I dig that one, though it's not something I'd listen to everyday.

[gnhrtg]

I am never tempted to buy a recording I wouldn't otherwise have bought simply because of Chris Speed's presence - indeed more often than not, it works the other way around. He might be a very compatible and not ego-driven person/musician but, on the whole, his playing leaves me cold.

[Captain Hate]

I would add Brotzmann as somebody with an (amazingly) sweet sound on clarinet at times.

Reynolds writing about music again!! There's a glimmer of hope!!

[trevor james]

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

Well, not trying to make comparisons or anything, but Michael Moore has a gorgeous sound on clarinet.

Yes, Michael and Speed!!! My mistake, I just got heated up from all the Speed-bashing....

[trevor james]

Originally Posted by LeMo

Yes, Michael Moore, of couse.
You can add to the bag Louis Sclavis, Ben Goldberg, André Jaume, Tony Coe, Marty Ehrlich, Avram Fefer and... Ken Vandermark.
Yes, even Ken Vandermark (Free Fall: "Furnace" Wobbly Rail).

I will give it up for most on this most on this list but Ken V? No way! I'm talking about a real clarinet sound, not the sound of saxophonist who doubles on clarinet. and Avram Fefer? Give me a break!

[trevor james]

Originally Posted by gnhrtg

I am never tempted to buy a recording I wouldn't otherwise have bought simply because of Chris Speed's presence - indeed more often than not, it works the other way around. He might be a very compatible and not ego-driven person/musician but, on the whole, his playing leaves me cold.

Strange that his playing leaves you cold from my perspective because his sound itself is very, very "warm". I've often read reviews of Michael Moore(who also has a very "warm" sound and the same word "cold" is present alot.

[trevor james]

Originally Posted by Rainman

I heard them live once and left with the feeling that it was music I respect more than dig. Except for Mat Moran, who was really great. I'm not big on Speed, myself. I have one CD by Hollenbeck (bought at the show) that I like alright. Can't remember the title right now, but it's the one with both Ellery and Ray Anderson on it, doing cameos (the reason I chose that one from the several at the merch table). There's an insane track on it where the cats play while a recording of one of Martin Luther King's more bizarre speeches runs on. I dig that one, though it's not something I'd listen to everyday.

Yes that MLK piece is AMAZING! very different from the claudia quintet or quartet lucy but a killer piece!!!!!!

[gnhrtg]

Trevor - I, of course, was referring to his playing and not his tone. I love Michael Moore, his tone and playing.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by trevor james

I will give it up for most on this most on this list but Ken V? No way! I'm talking about a real clarinet sound, not the sound of saxophonist who doubles on clarinet.

I don't know who on the list, or other clarinetists, doesn't play both horns including Speed. Vandermark has been playing the clarinet for a long time; it may have been what he started playing as a kid for all I know. He has great prowess on the horn and I've heard him sound very good on it more than once.

You seem to be taking personal exception to peoples' honest opinions of Chris Speed's playing; are you a friend of his? I assume you're not the Trevor James that makes saxophones and flutes. I'm not on a crusade against Speed; I've just been disappointed by his playing most of the time. To claim otherwise would be dishonest and misleading. I plan to see this group live later this month and I'll give my honest opinion of everybody's playing, including Speed's. Hopefully I'll be pleasantly surprised; nothing would be better than to have it be a completely transcendent event.