Ben Cruz / Emerson Hunton / Jason Stein

Triofolio

Ordinary Evidence

FMR CD 577-0520

Two clarinet trios, one American and one British stretch the melodic definition of a combo of this size. A new configuration for Chicago-based bass clarinetist Jason Stein, who is part of many ensembles, Threadbare features two younger Windy City players: guitarist Ben Cruz, who has played with Vijay Iyer and drummer Emerson Hunton, also a member of the Junior Ranger band. You can’t get much younger then Saul Scott, the drummer on Ordinary Evidence. He was 12 in 2019 when he played on this session. His father, bassist Paul K. Scott though, has worked with Denys Bapstise and Phil Robson. Meanwhile bass clarinetist Chris Cundy, who composed the majority of the CD’s selections, has worked with everyone from Cold Specks to Mick Beck.

By necessity and experience, an unassuming time keeper, Scott Jr. maintains an uncomplicated beat, with understated pops and emphasized accents. Senior Scott pumps out the rhythm as well, frequently evolving in double counterpoint to project theme and sequence changes. Relaxed and moderate most of the time, the group prefers narrative bounce over textural burrowing. Even tracks such as the title tune which evolves at an adagio pace, leave space for Cundy’s vibrated trilling. More commonly, even in chalumeau register, the clarinetist’s snorts and sighs are dynamic and comfortably balanced by double bass stops. Dipping into group composition on the consecutive “24 Meshed Veils” and “Funny Thing Is”, undulating clarinet buzzes and flutter tonguing are mirrored by Scott’s hard string thumps. On the latter a brief bass solo of string strums and plucks adumbrate the melody reprise with Cundy’s sliding trills. More generic to the trio’s evolution is a track like “Seeing in Leopards”. Expressive and casual, pitter-patter drumming moves the exposition down the scale as the clarinetist’s selection confirms the exposition as shrill reed bites are interpolated among vibrating note. Here and elsewhere, the program is mainstream-moderato while leaving some room for uncommon sound exploration.

Sound exploration is more obvious on Silver Dollar, with the composing credits split between Hunton and Cruz. More than an interpreter because of the front-line nature of his instrument Stein is usually the main soloist. From the top, the session’s pace is ambulatory and the tone mostly moderated, with drum work the anchor, the guitar alternately accompanying or doubling the reed line and the clarinetist sliding from curvaceous licks to altissimo sprays. While narrower bird-whistle like twitters and chalumeau slurs from Stein are sometimes used, these wallowing reed descents and squeaky smears still aim for connection with the others’ output. Illuminatingly, the title track suggests how a clarinet would sound in a Heavy Metal environment, with ferocious banshee-like cries intersecting with reverberating guitar flanges and drum shuffles. Elsewhere Stein sweeps up and down the scale with clarion calls and descriptive slurs without losing the ongoing narrative.

Furthermore while “Funny Thing Is” may be faster and livelier than the other tunes with drum cross pulses, chunky rhythm guitar lines and detours into descriptive reed trills, others put the trio definition in bolder relief. “24 Meshed Veils” is set up as a challenge between high-pitched reed shrilling and distorted string frails, while “Threadbare” is the most diffuse. As disjointed guitar plinks expressed by string tightening and loosening mingles with clarinet gurgles and brush splashes on drum tops, the sequence works up to repetitive motifs that shake underneath as the three connect in a hard, thick climax.

This side of mainstream and that side of experimental music the sound of these bands equally articulate valid visions of alluring clarinet trio adaptations.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Silver: 1. And When Circumstances Arise 2. Threadbare 02 3. 70 Degrees and Counting Down 4. 24 Meshed Veils 5. Funny Thing Is 6. Threadbare 7. Silver Dollar 8. Untitled

Personnel: Silver: Jason Stein (bass clarinet); Ben Cruz (guitar) and Emerson Hunton (drums)

Track Listing: Ordinary: 1. Maple List 2. Ordinary Evidence 3. Seeing in Leopards 4. In the Gallery 5. Indus 6. Coots Display 7. Casino Place 8. Annie’s Picture

Personnel: Ordinary: Chris Cundy (bass clarinet); Paul K. Scott (bass) and Saul Scott (drums)