Brötzmann/Adasiewicz/Edwards/Noble: Mental Shake

Rating: ★★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Steve Noble (d, perc)
Peter Brötzmann (ts)
Jason Adasiewicz (vib, balafon)
John Edwards (b)

Label:

OTOROKU

September/2014

Catalogue Number:

ROKU010

RecordDate:

12 August 2013

This single, 39-minute improvisation, recorded live at London's Café OTO, melds two of Brötzmann's (spelt Broetzmann on the sleeve) more recent working groups into a brand new quartet. His trio with the longstanding UK bass/drums team of Edwards and Noble has emerged in recent years as a powerhouse unit, facilitating some characteristically bullish playing from the German master while, at the same time, Brötzmann has developed a much more meditative duo with young Chicago vibraphonist, Adasiewicz. On the face of it, you'd be forgiven for expecting this collaboration not to work, but it does – admirably. One key to its success is Adasiewicz's ability to constantly find innovative and creative ways of engaging with the other musicians: when Noble rolls out a clatter of chimes and gongs, the vibes lock into a sharp, metallic pattering. When bass, drums and sax tumble into boiling turmoil, Adasiewicz floats over the top with an echoing, cosmic shimmer, as though glancing up from the furious engine to navigate by the stars. And, when the drums drop out, meticulously placed note clusters from Adasiewicz provide a thrilling tension, provoking a plaintive lyricism from Brötzmann's rasping Hungarian taragato. It's not often you get to eavesdrop on a new language being born.

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