TUNES: ANACRUSIS/ EURUS/ GIVE NO QUARTER/ ZEPHYRUS/ LATE PREAMBLE/ SONG FOR PREDECESSORS/ SPECIFIC GRAVITY/ NOTUS/ LOGICAL CONSISTENCY/ TALE OF THE BEWILDERED BEE/ COMPLEMENTARY PROGRESS/ FUNDAMENTAL AMBUSH/ BOREAS 63:22

PERSONNEL: Ab Baars, ts, cl, shakuhachi; Meinrad Kneer, b; Bill Elgart, d. October 9, 2011; Foxhol, Netherlands.

Dutch woodwind guru Ab Baars has again teamed up with bassist Meinrad Kneer for a collaboration that includes the coloring rhythms of drummer Bill Elgart. The album begins with an extreme amount of energy on “Anacrusis” and carries that vigor throughout the album to performances of “Give No Quarter” and “Specific Gravity.” As with most piano-less or chord-less trios, there is a high expectation of the bassist. Kneer rises to the occasion with a combination of rhythmic precision and soaring countermelodies on cuts like “Eurus.” He is just as apt with the bow as he is without and can often mix double-stops with wild effects, which he does on “Notus.” It is a real treat to hear veteran Bill Elgart included with this duo. His resume includes work with Paul Bley, Gary Peacock, Sam Rivers, Karl Berger, Dave Holland, Lee Konitz, and a slew of other masters. His work on this album does not disappoint, and his musical rapport with Baars is undeniable. Together, this experimental trio creates many fascinating and intense soundscapes. For listeners unfamiliar with their work, take in “Logical Consistency;” it is a perfect display of the sheer power their group improvisations can have.

Dustin Mallory

CD review from Volume 41, No. 2, 2015 
www.cadencemagazine.com

CD REVIEW: NEW RELEASE

 
ARTIST: BAARS/KNEER/ELGART
TITLE:  GIVE NO QUARTER
LABEL: EVIL RABBIT RECORDS 20