Space Quartet

Mahakaruna Quartet
Life Practice
Setola Di Maiale SM4360

Creating electro-acoustic interaction with vibrating space chords as prominent as acoustic techniques, two quartets —one Portuguese and one Italian —artfully project the approach in live concert settings. A working group, Space Quartet works with the voltage extensions from leader Rafael Toral’s acoustic and electronic feedback and amplifier that is affiliated with Hugo Antunes’ bass, Nuno Morão’s percussion plus the electronic instrument and alto saxophone of Nuno Torres. The result is a unique sound on five tracks that transcend these Iberian veterans usual programs. A one-off meeting of improvisers who have distinguished themselves in other settings, Life Practice is an interaction among the voltages created by Italian Giorgio Pacorig’s electric piano and electronics plus acoustic stretches from fellow Italians Stefano Giust’s percussion and Gabriele Cancelli’s trumpet and Slovenian tenor saxophonist Cene Resnik.

Recorded in Braga, Coimbra and Copenhagen, schism among tracks on Freedom of Tomorrow is minimal with the electronically bent timbres swelling and synthesizing with string pops and bright horn swells and whistles. Antunes’ guitar-like strums and Morão’s upwards paradiddles often combine for canorous resonance. But specific tone extension is more generic. More often strident feedback, floating flanges and concentrated oscillated burbles join with moderated reed puffs over a walking bass line or drum paradiddles. Protracted variants of both the blended and the blatant intersections are on “Freedom Of Tomorrow” and “Generation”. The former has woody drum smacks complementing linear reed burbles that gradually dissolve into electronic processing resembling half-valve brass effects. When the liquification is complete, the resulting wispy flutters are hollowed out until what remains is penny-whistle-like peeps that transform into electrified comping backing Torres’ split tones. In contrast “Generation” is thick with string bass echoes, cymbal swishes and horizontal sax blowing. Only when Toral’s signal processed and bell-ringing timbres expand does the saxophonist introduce renal scoops and ocarina-like squeals that cut through the wave-form hiss to connect with the electronics. These dominant during a concluding minute of unaccompanied warbles.

More acoustic by design, Life Practice‘s one extended improvisation moves through an idiosyncratic variant of introduction, elaboration and conclusion, with the most compelling part of the program its second half. Beginning with gentle vibraharp-like clips from Pacorig, Giust’s irregular drum beat, Cancelli’s portamento trumpet lines and Resnik’s flutter tonguing, brassy triplet stops evolve contrapuntally with bent reed notes. Harmonized but maintaining individuality, the horns’ high-pitched smears are joined by electronic oscillations that introduce a piano interlude that precedes exposition toughening. Made up of intermittent
saxophone multiphonics and trumpet triplets the group composition becomes more assertive as it moves up the scale. By the fourth sequence Resnik deconstructs his timbres as does Cancelli by French kissing his mouthpiece and blowing half-valve effects. Drum shakes and pitter-patter and electric piano slithers add to the polyphony. Further colored by vocalized glissandi from the saxophonist and brass smears ripples, broken chord advancement is joined by jiggling piano echoes. This means that three separate but parallel lines are projected at the same time. With voltage buzzing, muted brass tones and accented reed stops peppering the interaction, the penultimate section ends with an unfocused electronic drone. Buzzing and shaking strands that encompass cymbal rattles, strained saxophone bites and trumpet plunger tones are logically wrapped up in a concluding sequence that is restrained, grainy and straightforward.

Exposing unconventional dynamics, each ensemble confirms that tomorrow’s freedom and today’s life practice create engrossing programs that adroitly blend novel and expected textures.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Freedom: 1. Black And White 2. Freedom Of Tomorrow 3. Starlight 4. Generation 5. Landing In Copenhagen

Personnel: Freedom: Nuno Torres (alto saxophone, electronic instrument); Hugo Antunes (bass); Nuno Morão (drums, percussion); Rafael Toral (acoustic and electronic feedback, amplifier)

Track Listing: Life: 1. See 2. Listen 3. Sniff 4. Savor 5. Touch 6. Offer

Personnel: Life: Gabriele Cancelli (trumpet); Cene Resnik (tenor saxophone); Giorgio Pacorig (Rhodes piano, electronics) and Stefano Giust (drums, cymbals)