Keune, Stefan

Sunday Sundaes

Label: Creative Sources Country: Portugal

Solo improvisation from Stefen Keune performing on sopranino and alto saxophones, intense playing that focuses on hard-blowing and extreme performance, wringing a singularly desperate yet astute language from the horn. German bron Keune is known from his trio and duo work with guitarist John Russell, which is documented on the British Emanem label, and for his trio with bassist Hans Schneider and drummer Achim Kramer, who have recorded on the FMP label.

"[...] Sunday Sundaes (CS030) is an altogether more declarative and caustic solo reeds performance, by the veteran Stefan Keune (who here plays alto and sopranino saxophones). Covering a lot of bases, these eleven tracks (recorded from August - September 2004) concentrate on the saxophones' harsher properties: squeals, wails, hollers, and blurts. From the opening "Conically Speaking" - where Keune seemingly tries to force as much air through the bell as possible, in almost Gustafsson-like voice - you know you're in a different territory than one usually occupies on a Creative Sources release. "The Mole" and the long "Fric Frac" concentrate on overblowing and split tones almost exclusively; as an essay on harshness, this is pretty effective stuff (particularly the super-intense tracks like "Ambit Gambit"). [...]"-Jason Bivins, Bagatellen