Ziv Taubenfeld’s Full Sun

One of those rare CD where the span of the compositions and the skill of the improvisations intensifies as the tracks burgeon. Without being panglossian it seems that Dutch-Israeli bass clarinetist Ziv Taubenfeld’s has created five tracks with purposeful narratives that intensify musicians’ talents.

Taubenfeld’s associates, all active in Amsterdam, most of whom have worked with him in the past include trombonist Joost Buis, alto saxophonist/clarinetist Michael Moore, pianist Nico Chientaroli, bassist Omer Govreen and percussionist Onno Govaert. Overall the themes are multi-layered and contrapuntal, with sequences dedicated to stratified horn projections, discursive or attendant keyboard entries, steadying double bass thumps, rugged or refined percussion and portamento highpoints for individual horn players. “MoonDoctor” for instance dedicates a section to Buis, with his slide from plunger emphasis to grainy bluster serving as the centrepiece of a track that sways from adagio to andante until swift reed yelps and bites give way to bass clarinet moving southwards from the chalumeau register and spiky drum accents as broken chords from the horns keep the piece horizontal to its completion,

Although elsewhere he makes his presence known with gong-like tremors and hand slaps, Govaert’s most extended showcase is on the concluding “Blues For Sunny” where his clips, paradiddles and ruffs complete the narrative after alternating with broken note horn expositions that encompass an arching alto saxophone tone, split tone bass clarinet flutters and brass flutter tonguing. Revealing a playful side here, Chientaroli adds honky-tonk allusions to his usual pressurized, straightforward playing.

The exposition on that tune is resolved with a group evocation, which is also heard to advantage on other tracks. Letting his stories be told via collective contrapuntal timbres as well as individual expressions, Taubenfeld should be well pleased with this set. So too should listeners.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Gold Wood 2. Spider Jungle 3. MoonDoctor 4. Andalus Fig Tree 5. Blues For Sunny

Personnel: Joost Buis (trombone); Michael Moore (alto saxophone, clarinet); Ziv Taubenfeld (bass clarinet, percussion); Nico Chientaroli (piano, objects): Omer Govreen (bass) and Onno Govaert (drums, percussion)