Ziv Taubenfeld/Albert Berger/Shat Hazan/Hamid Drake

Besides being unique by living  in the Middle East’s only functioning democracy, Israel improvisers face the familiar problem of Free Jazz players from all countries – being almost unknown overseas. Yet this audacious, Tel Aviv-recorded session confirms how  Sabras can hold their own with inventive player anywhere.

True to form however the Israelis here are part of a quartet with two visitors. Although Isarel-born bass clarinetist Ziv Taubenfeld, who has recorded with the likes of Onno Govaert has lived in Amsterdam for many years and American Hamid Drake is arguably globally one of the most recorded drummers, their playing is simpatico. Not that the locals are fazed. Veteran tenor saxophonist Albert Beger recorded with Darke two decades ago, while bassist Shay Hazan has a recorded history with both reed players here.

Gutsy from the get-go, the quartet starts off “A Question of Universality”, the t track first track with tandem clarinet squeaks and saxophone smears. As the drums rattle and snap and the bass thumps steadily, Taubenfeld’s double-tongued clarion snorts intertwine with Berger’s honks and cries that ascend to the saxophone’s highest register. Eventually completed with subtle cymbal coloration after a percussion display, the middle section is characterized by Hazan’s subtle fingering bringing out a sinewy response from the clarinetist’s mid-range delineation.

The same high caliber playing continues throughout with Hazan’s thick and powerful stops or arco rubs defining the introduction to a couple of tracks. “Into the Horizon” undulates as the bassist plucking distinctive Maghreb-like timbres from the guembri, with the vibrations easily shadowed by rattles and pops from Drake who often solos on a Middle Eastern frame drum .Meanwhile the intertwined horns harmonize while propelling multiphonic snarls and buzzes.

Taken as a whole the four-part Cosmic Waves session doesn’t have to be compared to any equivalent set to point out its qualities. In a better world Israel would be known for such creative artistry, not its multiple military skirmishes with unfriendly neighbors.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. A Question of Universality 2. Into the Horizon 3. The Steamer 4. Astral Visit

Personnel: Albert Beger (tenor saxophone, percussion); Ziv Taubenfeld (bass clarinet, percussion); Shay Hazan (guembri, bass) and Hamid Drake (drums)