Silke Eberhard’s Potsa Lotsa XL & Youjin Sung

Having proven herself as a soloist, composer and member of many-sized ensembles, Berlin alto saxophonist Silke Eberhard augments her Potsa Lotsa band to probe an exclusive musical challenge. Gaya’s five tracks place the angled vibrations from Youjin Sung’s 12-string Korean plucked zither or gayageum within the saxophonist’s uniquely constituted Jazz tentet, with the blend an augmentation of both traditions.

Blending results as much from Eberhard’s arrangements as Sung’s playing. However Sung, who has improvised with Simon Rose, fits ball-and-socket into this criterion. The gayageum’s bent note twangs and frails are distinctive on their own. However like the brass and reed vamps and Taiko Saito’s vibraphone pops they’re integrated as accents within the evolving sounds, not as exotic extras forced into the presentation.

Eberhard, who has worked with Ulrich Gumpert, among many others knows how to integrate proper improvised and compositional motifs. There are times, as on “Sed”, where the group attains a Jazz groove lead by Patrick Braun’s tenor saxophone smears, which flow perfectly logically from a narrative that cannily increases in tempo as harsh reed flattement and diversified vibe pops cement its content. Meanwhile Gayageum vibrations meld with other strings’ stretches in a similar fashion as the composition’s last notes relate back to the tune’s introduction.

Still Sung’s instrument adaptation is more pronounced during a “Ned” interlude where her string output resembles that of a bass guitar capable of melodic and rhythmic motifs at the same time. While her bent note strokes may introduce the initial theme, Eberhard’s carefully balanced orchestration with dual clarinets on top define the sequence. Leaving space for trombonist Gerhard Gshlössl’s plunger break, the ending feature gorgeous band harmony backing the gayageum’s distinctive plucks.

Gaya’s limitation is that there are few opportunities for the alto saxophonist and others to add characteristic solos to the program, although Eberhard’s skill as an arranger of concentrated, eloquent arrangements makes up for that in her case. Overall these arrangements and the musicians’ skills band have created a singularly exciting setting for the unusual instrument.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Hana 2. Dul 3. Sed 4. Ned 5. Dasod

Personnel: Nikolas Neuser (trumpet); Gerhard Gshlössl (trombone); Silke Eberhard (alto saxophone); Patrick Braun (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Jurgen Kupke (clarinet); Antonis Anissegos (piano); Johannes Fink (cello); Igor Spillati (bass); Taiko Saito (vibraphone); Kay Lubke (drums); Youjin Sung (gayageum)