Berne's Bloodcount, Tim

Memory Select - Paris Concert III

Label: Winter & Winter Country: Germany

"In September 1994 Tim Berne chose the french capital Paris as location for the live-recording of his newest project Bloodcount. JMT already released a selection from a series of four Bloodcount concerts in the club "Instants Chavirés" on two CDs:

Lowlife - The Paris Concert I (JMT 919 074-2) and Poisoned Minds - The Paris Concert II (JMT 919 075-2). Paris daily 'Le Monde' wrote enthusiastically about the Bloodcount concerts: "Five Musicians - one single voice. A music which gives us the possibility to lose ourselves." Now the third and last part of the Paris Concerts is released: Memory Select - The Paris Concert III.

1954 born Tim Berne is one of the most regarded composers and instrumentalists of the current progressive jazz scene. Berne released his first solo-albums on his own Empire label in 1979. For JMT he recorded with the group Miniature, his own group Caos Totale and a special project with David Sanborn for a Julius Hemphill tribute. Berne's compositions stand in the tradition of composers like Anthony Braxton, Julius Hemphill, Roscoe Mitchell and Henry Threadgill. Since Berne's milestone recording Sanctified Dreams he developed a unique, suite-like composing style which juxtaposes highly structured compostion with improvisation.

Tim Berne's work with Bloodcount follows a slightly different approach than his former projects and his other working group Caos Totale. Tim Berne summs up Bloodcount's outstanding features the following:

"After continual frustration with inadequate amplification in live performance I decided to form a group that could function independent of P.A. systems and sound people.

I was looking for a band that could perform in any space regardless of size without sound re-inforcement. This group would require the flexibility and dynamic range of a string quartet. I felt that the dynamic and rhythmic possibilities in the music would be enhanced with this commitment to acoustic playing.The group Bloodcount was formed in 1994 with Michael Formanek (contrabass), Chris Speed (tenor saxophon, clarinette) and Jim Black (drums). I wanted an ensemble capable of filling a room while maintaining the intimacy of small group playing. Guitarist Marc Ducret has since become an occasional fifth member adding significantly to the orchestral potential of the music.My main objective with Bloodcount is to de-emphasize the usual soloistic approach inherent in small group "jazz" and create more of a chamber music approach to improvisation. This includes an emphasis on collective playing and obscuring the traditional roles implied by this instrumentation.

The responsibilities of rhythm, melody and harmony are shared equally within the band. Each player has an equal 'say' in the outcome. In a sense we are co-composers in shaping the direction of each piece. It goes without saying that the success of these performances is due to the selfless commitmentof Jim, Chris, Michael, and Marc to the music. Their collective discipline and brilliant playing has made this one of my most satisfying musical experiences. All of this music was composed explicitly for Bloodcount."-Tim Berne / December 1994