Enrico Fazio/Giancarlo Nino Locatelli

Schindler & Jacquemyn
Fragile Eruptions
FMR CD 625-0422

Stripped to essentials, two duos combine sounds available from the double bass and reeds to create sympathetic textures that don’t need other instruments. A simple set of parries and thrusts, Italians, bass clarinetist Giancarlo Nino Locatelli and bassist Enrico Fazio use standard and extended techniques during seven relaxed and raucous duets. More expansive, the 11 tracks from two concerts by Belgium bassist Peter Jacquemyn and German multi-instrumentalist Udo Schindler carve out an edifice of deep listening free improvisation.

Despite the title of Fragile Eruptions it’s not surprising that Schindler and Jacquemyn are sophisticated in the shaping of sturdy materials since the bassist is also a sculptor and Schindler, who plays clarinets, saxophones and brass here is also an architect. The two hit the ground running on “PART_ 1 e. f. #1” with reed squealing and trilling met by pressured spiccato from the bassist. Overall though, while the innovations are as elevated in both parts, Part 2 recorded a day later, sounds looser and more familiar as the tracks are further extended. Like a film moving from landscape to close ups, distant reed smears and puffs or high-pitched string rubs gradually come into focus as Jacquemyn’s consistent stroking connects with hollowed split tone fragments and scoops from Schindler.

As the tracks evolve and timbres, the equivalent of wider-angle shots, open up to expose a tandem output of intense reed tongue slaps, honks and scoops with col legno and spiccato rubs that emphasize varied points on the strings. Simultaneously, the bassist’s pressure is so intense that it threatens to figuratively set the bass on fire. Before the pairing completes this sequence with string bounces and multiphonic tongue slides, the extended “PART_ 2 f. e. f. #4” gives Schindler a chance to move round robin-like around his other instruments. Producing a brassy portamento that suggests Jew’s harp twangs, he adds alphorn-like echoing triplets and unearths chalumeau register subterranean tones. Not to be outdone, Jacquemyn’s slides and strops alternate between violin-pitched glissandi and darkened basement strokes. While still linear, this interaction proves the mastery of both with the timbral spectrum.

If any texture are missing on the second night that were emphasized in the stretched and slithering “Part 1” it’s the vocalized yodeling and growling from the bassist. Used as another tonal diversion, his throat-and-mouth grumbles also reach high-pitched and low-pitched timbres whether they evolve in unison with his strained thumping or elevated near-the-scroll picking. Schindler responds in kind with expressions that include wider and wider overblowing, harsh pig-like snorting plus bites and doits from the top of the scale.

Locatelli, part of the Pipeline bands and Fazio, who was in the Minafra Sud Ensemble, recorded in much less formal circumstances one evening and these improvisations reflect that. With similar jumps from chalumeau and clarion tone from the bass clarinet and high-pitched twangs or low-pitched stops from the strings, their interface is often as polychromatic as Schindler’s and Jacquemyn’s. Working up to the impeccable broken octave counterpoint that closes the set on “Organogena”, the two move through conventional and extended techniques. For instance Locatelli evolves from what sounds like barely there inner-tube blowing on “Effusiva” through split tone squeaks to smooth open horn curves. In turn Fazio slides from spiccato string pops to moderated emphasis, finally settling on moderate string slaps. On the other hand “Elastica” is an exercise in harshness as the droning reed scoops become harder and thicker as the piece evolves and the bassist displays resonating banjo-like plucks before the disparate expositions are balanced. Grainy growls, string tone evisceration, mouse-like squeaks and warmer string bounces also fit into the duet. Overall though, the vibrations lock in over time so that the entire session’s timbres are integrated as well linear.

Reduced to their instrumental essence these veteran improvisers show all that can be accomplished with simpatico acoustic duos.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Fragile: 1. PART_ 1 e. f. #1 2. PART_ 1 e. f. #2 3. PART_ 1 e. f. #3 4. PART_ 1 e. f. #4 5. PART_ 1 e. f. #5 6. PART_ 1 e. f. #6 7. PART_ 2 f. e. f. #1 8. PART_ 2 f. e. f. #2 9. PART_ 2 f. e. f. #3 10. PART_ 2 f. e. f. #4 11. PART_ 2 f. e. f. #5

Personnel: Fragile: Udo Schindler (clarinets, saxophones, brass) and Peter Jacquemyn (bass and voice)

Track Listing: 7: 1, Chimica 2. Effusiva 3. Intrusiva 4. Filoniana 5. Elastica 6. Metamorfica 7. Organogena

Personnel:7: Giancarlo Nino Locatelli (bass clarinet) and Enrico Fazio (bass)