István Grencsó / Barnbás Dukay / Aurél Holló / Adriana Kalafszky

Operating in the narrow boundary where improvised music meets art song is Hungarian multi-reedist István Grencsó’s “When Down…”. During its 17 tracks he and his associates provide creative textures alongside the vocals of lyric soprano Adriana Kalafszky. But this isn’t the expected vocal and instrumental combination. Besides textures from Grencsó’s woodwinds, Aurél Holló adds reverberations from a collection of idiophones and keyboardist Barnabas Dukay plays a rare open-body, steel frame, double layered Klavins piano. Additionally the texts which Kalafszky verbalizes range from Dante to instructions about Internet cookies. As well, the soprano’s tessitura soars to such an extent that the words are sometime mere tones.

With some of the themes repeated more than once, the ability of the four to create ever newer variants in what already are unforeseen blends is expressed. A track like “Faded Inscription under the Ivy” for instance first unrolls by matching bel canto coloration with thin clarinet vibrations and piano key rasps. The second version evolves chromatically with clipped piano string stops contrasted with a vocal delivery both melismatic and lyrical. Elsewhere the two variants on “I Had journeyed half of Our Life’s Way” feature the same piano key clanging and yodeling from Kalafszky.

Sophisticated in presentation so that her timbres range from rugged shrieks to ethereal warbles, the soprano holds her ground with the veteran improvisers. Holló’s percussion collection adds hard vibraphone echoes, warm marimba pops as well as textures from gongs, chimes and penny whistles to the unfolding creativity, using rubs or pops to intersect with the others. Dukay’s unique piano provides unprecedented internal string and inside body vibrations. Key clipping, spilling piano sweeps and vibrations are also present.

Although Grencsó uses circular breathing and note sprays sparingly, the trio’s instrumental work easily stands on its own. “Warning (variation)” for example matches his vibrating flattement and multiphonics to woody marimba slaps as voice and keyboard energy face off. The introductory “Daybreak” affiliates emotional reed cries with staccato piano effects and gong clangs for forward motion. On “The Opening Gate” processional keyboard clanks, metal bowl quivers and mid-range saxophone tones outline then complete the measured narrative. Oddly enough “The Opening Gate” is the final track. It suggests that more sounds like these should be available; a situation with which many would agree.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Daybreak 2. Warning 3. Out of Space 4. When I Had journeyed half of Our Life’s Way 5. Hardly At All 6. A Faded Inscription under the Ivy 7. Mossy 8. A Faded Inscription under the Ivy (variation) 9. Warning (variation) 10.Brother Bunyan 11. When the Shadows Surround You 12. When I Had journeyed half of Our Life’s Way (variation) 13. Seven Springs 14. Touch 15. Anomaly 16. Silhouette 17. The Opening Gate

Personnel: István Grencsó (soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet and bass clarinet); Barnabas Dukay (Klavins Una Corda M189 piano); Aurel Holló (drums, vibraphone. Tuned bowls, marimba, chimes, bell tree and percussion), and Adriana Kalafszky (soprano)