Urs Blöchlinger Revisited

Although tinged with nepotism Harry Doesn’t Mind is a rare re-interpreting of original compositions by a Free Jazz avatar that wasn’t named Coltrane or Ayler. Urs Blöchlinger (1954-1995) was a Swiss saxophonist, who before his suicide led his own groups as well as working with the likes of Carla Bley’s bands. He left behind a group of quirky composition and the six Swiss and one Canadian players organized to provide their take(s) on the material.

A link to Blöchlinger vision, one member – drummer Dieter Ulrich – was in some of the saxophonist’s bands. Nepotism appears because the person playing the alto and bass saxophone is Lino Blöchlinger, the senior Blöchlinger’s son, musical director of the Fischermanns Orchestra. Other participants are numerous local bands: trumpeter Silvan Schmid, trombonist Beat Unternährer, bass clarinetist/saxophonist Sebastian Strinning and pianist Christoph Baumann. Bassist Neal Davis is as busy in Toronto.

Phenomenally the septet taps into the composer’s uncompromising seriousness and his sardonic humor. Glances at the song titles confirm the latter, with the folk-like “Kungusisches Arbeiterlied (Keiner Weiss Hinten, Wie Er Vorne Dran Ist)” an instance of the former. On it Baumann’s careful chording presages the horns full marching band treatment contrasting elevated brass pitches and bottom-feeding reed slurs as if painted horses on a carousel. With keyboard clipping and Ulrich’s wood block slaps maintaining the dynamic theme it torques even more at the conclusion. Meanwhile drum hop-hops and kinetic piano patterns preserve the narrative on “Rudy the Pimp”, which otherwise is twisted from its base by shaded flutters from Schmid and subterrestrial bass saxophone huffs. Other pieces such as the title track express variations of both qualities. Fragmented by the saxophonists’ multiphonic overblowing plus plunger brass counterpoint, the track’s ambulatory exposition rests on the drummer’s backbeat. Eventually aviary reed smears are sutured with a straight-ahead alto solo at the conclusion.

Preservation of his father’s legacy is given added credence by Blochlinger’s participation. But the compositional originality and exceptional playing make this a top-notch session in any case.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Harry Doesn’t Mind 2. Adrenallini 3. Rudy the Pimp 4. I Love You – But Later 5. Kungusisches Arbeiterlied (Keiner Weiss Hinten, Wie Er Vorne Dran Ist) 6. Bhagwan Business 7. King Arthur Meets Hanns Eisler in Hollywood

Personnel: Silvan Schmid (trumpet); Beat Unternährer (trombone); Lino Blöchlinger (alto and bass saxophones); Sebastian Strinning (bass clarinet, tenor saxophone); Christoph Baumann (piano); Neal Davis (bass) and Dieter Ulrich (drums, bugle)