DUOT with Strings

Not a standard “with strings” session, instead DUOT and the Zam Ensemble stay away from the expected idea of softening soloists improvisations with string harmonies. Instead DUOT, which consists of Catalan players tenor/soprano saxophonist Albert Cirera and drummer Ramon Prats, institute a more original paradigm; rather than accompanying Cirera and Prats, the string players are fully interactive participants.

In this case however instituting the program is less difficult than it would seem. That’s because the Lisbon-based ensemble consists of string players fully cognizant with creative music’s demands. It’s members – violinists Carlos Zingaro and David Alves, cellist Ulrich Mitzlaf and bassist Alvaro Rosso – have probably been part of as many improv situations as the duo. There are points in fact, as on “Crunchy Trails” where the jagged and squeezed stops from the higher pitched fiddles and the sul taso pulses and bow digs from the lower-pitched strings operate at such a level of intensity that Cirera and Prats’ contribution are almost lost in the resulting sound articulation.

Generally though an equivalent trade off exists between timbres from the strings and those from the saxophone and drums. Although there are sequences where sul ponticellos bow jabs seem to be digging into the instruments’ wood or ratcheting strokes dominate aural space with shrill sweeps, those contrapuntal provocation usually arise when Cirera’s triple tonguing or emotional squeaks are emphasized or Prats’ drumming become more rugged.

The most telling  – and actually lengthiest – example of this is on “Roaring Jellyfish”. A concentrated string drone plus Rosso’s syncopated pulsations brush up against prestissimo reed flutters and measured drum pops. The interchange between light and darkness, pressure and release finally reaches a climax as Cirera’s soprano saxophone defines a liquid and linear melody on top of thicker percussion and string vibrations.

Positing an uncommon and cooperative use of a string quartet in an improvised setting with reeds and percussion the disc should generate widespread interest.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. A kind Of trees 2. Crunchy Trails 3. Pinky Chocolate 4. Sky Skating 5. Roaring Jellyfish 6. Crumbled Time

Personnel: Albert Cirera (soprano and tenor saxophones); Ramon Prats (drums) with Zarm Ensemble: Carlos Zingaro and David Alves (violins); Ulrich Mitzlaf (cello) and Alvaro Rosso (bass)