The Squid's Ear
Writing about unusual and experimental music,
following the activities of Squidco...
  •  •  •     Join Our Mailing List!



The Squid's Ear
Facebook: Squidco Sales

Heard In

Reviews of artist releases:
cd's, books, magazines, &c.


  Karl Berger 
  In a Moment
  (Tzadik) 


  
   review by Brian Olewnick
  2018-12-04
Karl Berger: In a Moment (Tzadik)

'In a Moment' is the third in a trilogy of recordings Berger has done for Tzadik, though this writer hasn't heard the prior two, one a solo piano venture, the other a piano trio. Indeed, it's been quite some time since I've heard music from Berger at all, so the reader might take that under advisement. That said, there are strains on the present album that very much recall some of his earlier music, including that from the 60s and 70s.

The album consists of fourteen fairly short tracks (ranging from a little over a minute to a bit over five), quiet pieces with a kind of chamber-jazz aura, played by a sextet of strings (Sana Nagano, violin; Jason Hwang and Larry Packer, violas; Tomas Ulrich and Gabriel Dresdale, celli; and stalwart Ken Filiano, bass), intertwined with Berger's piano. Several of the tracks are solo piano, including a welcome revival of two Berger compositions, 'Fragments' and 'd'Accord', first heard on his wonderful duo album with Dave Holland, 'All Kinds of Time', recorded for Sackville in 1976.

The writing for the high strings is gentle, with the kind of "classical" tinge not uncommon in the American tradition heard in, say, William Bolcom, i.e., aware of various folk and jazz traditions, melding them with European ones, but without regard to serialism, Cage, minimalism, etc. (Berger, though German-born, has lived in the US since at least 1972). A more contemporary point of reference might be the music of Robin Holcomb. Filiano and Berger often — not always — supply the more jazzy or bluesy colors. Lyricism rules the day, apart from occasional agitated cries as heard on the part of the violas in 'Allaba'. Generally, matters are pensive, considered, benevolent. The string writing is clear and accessible, the piano well integrated. Depending on tastes, one might have wished for somewhat more adventurousness, but as is, Berger's music is satisfyingly well crafted and extremely well performed by the cast at hand.



Karl Berger: In a Moment
Is Sold at Squidco!
Squidco




Comments and Feedback:



The Squid's Ear presents
reviews about releases
sold at Squidco.com
written by
independent writers.

Squidco

Recent Selections @ Squidco:


Berlin Art Quartet (
Schubert /
Bauer /
Muller /
Bruggemann):
Live At MIM
(Unisono Records)



Jimmy Lyons:
Rivbea Live! Series,
Volume 3
(NoBusiness)



Erik Klinga:
Elusive Shimmer
(thanatosis produktion)



Das B (
Mazen Kerbaj /
Mike Majkowski /
Magda Mayas /
Tony Buck):
Love
(thanatosis produktion /
Corbett Vs Dempsey)



Brass Clouds:
Escape Vessels
(Bathysphere Records)



Fire! Orchestra:
Echoes
[2 CDs]
(Rune Grammofon)



Sophie Agnel /
John Edwards /
Steve Noble:
Three On A Match
(Otoroku)



Satoko Fujii
This is It! (
w/
Natsuki Tamura /
Takashi Itani):
Message
(Libra)



Sorry For Laughing (
G. Whitlow /
M. Bates /
Dave-Id /
E. Ka-Spel):
Rain Flowers
[2 CDS]
(Klanggalerie)



New Origin (
feat. Christoph Rocher /
Joe Fonda /
Harvey Sorge):
The Poet Walks
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Simon Nabatov:
Agree to Disagree
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Von Schlippenbach, Alexander /
Barry Altschul Quartet w/
Joe Fonda &
Rudi Mahal:
Free Flow
[2 CDs]
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Thelonious Monk with
Sonny Rollins:
1953 To 1957
Revisited
(ezz-thetics by
Hat Hut Records
Ltd)



Daniel Carter /
Ayumi Ishito /
George Draguns /
Ed Wilcox:
Makeshift Spirituals
(577 Records)



Kory Reeder:
Homestead
(Another Timbre)



John Cage:
Chamber Works 1943-1951
(Another Timbre)



Josh Sinton:
Couloir &
Book Of Practitioners
Vol. 2
Book "W"
[2 CDs]
(FiP recordings)



Elliott Sharp /
Scott Fields:
Reimsi Geara
(Relative Pitch)



KnCurrent (
Brennan /
Cooper-Moore /
Davis /
Hwang):
KnCurrent
(Deep Dish)



Biota:
Measured Not Found
(Recommended Records)







Squidco
Click here to
advertise with
The Squid's Ear






The Squid's Ear pays its writers.
Interested in becoming a reviewer?




The Squid's Ear is the companion magazine to the online music shop Squidco !


  Copyright © Squidco. All rights reserved. Trademarks. (31519)