The Squid's Ear Magazine


Muller, Matthias / Matthias Muche : MM Squared Session (Creative Sources)

Two German trombonists, Matthias and Matthias Muche, extend the trombone language through four open improvisations using advanced techniques and bizarre language, each appropriately titled for phonemes, as the two players explore the strangest and most interesting sides of their instruments to the benefit of the intrepid listener.
 

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Matthias Muller-trombone

Matthias Muche-trombone


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UPC: 5609063403060

Label: Creative Sources
Catalog ID: CS306
Squidco Product Code: 21639

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2015
Country: Portugal
Packaging: Jewel Case
Recorded at Studioboerne45, in Berlin-Weissensee, Germany, in 2014.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Like a florid rodeo clown who only reveals the true purpose of his job as a paramedic if necessary, a trombonist's ability to express broad emotions with his horn often masks the instrument's cerebral ability. But without eschewing the brass instruments connective and conceptive role, the trombonists here - a German trombone duo and a French technician leading a bass and drum trio - demonstrate the instrument's sonic elasticity. If Robert and company's disc is the equivalent of attending the appearances of actors who are as likely to animate a TV commercial, as Chekov, then MM Squared Session is the equivalent to dedicating your evening to avant-garde theatre.

Two of Germany's most accomplished trombonists, Berlin's Matthias Muller and Koln's Matthias Muche have created a two-hander with the idea of alluding to any extended technique and tones capable of being produced by their instruments. Since two modern sackbuts are involved, it's impossible to tell who plays what. But the impression is like seeing Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart performing Waiting for Godot in full make up. The play's the thing; not who performs it. [...] Muller and Muche are more akin to Beat poets Gregory Corso and Allen Ginsberg on this CD at least.

MM Squared Session's four sound poems are designed to stretch the trombone language as much as the Beats did so with English language imagery. Unlike versifiers who work alone, the German brass men are able to ricochet concepts off each other and respond in kind to each other's sonic suggestions. Most of the time however, their improvisations ignore the comfortable middle-range, choosing instead to concentrate on near-luminous puffs, cacophonous staccato breaks or low-pitched grumbles. The effect is sometimes like experiencing the aftershock of a hurricane. But M&M are so attuned to each others' creativity that the oscillated buzzes, often forced through their horns without valve movement are reminiscent of waves fusing to create a choppy sea, and then gradually calming.

That concept is put to good use on "Ma". Gentler meteorological readings result from "Mu" however. Escalating from distant buzzes to harsh blats the brass players come on like conjoined twins with the same nervous system. Flat-line burrs drip from one corpus to the other eventually creating almost opaque slurs that satisfy. It's as if crazy glue has locked together two half of a painted portrait. This same sort of cooperation is evident on the extended "Tti". Yet the genuine excitement engendered as M&M rupture the preceding low-key face off between toad-like crocking from one trombonist and rugged gusts from the other to determine who can blow out the largest volume of unaccented air. The finale funds both operating like twin harnessed steeds moving a carriage in tandem. Renaissance trombones were known as sackbuts. But there's a whole bag of modern tricks on display here via three contemporary trombone stylists."-Ken Waxman, JazzWord


Get additional information at Jazzword

Artist Biographies

"Matthias Müller was born 1971 in Zeven, Germany and starting playing trombone in the local trombone choir at the age of 10. From 1994 to 1999 he studied jazz-trombone at the Folkwang Hochschule in Essen, where he also made his first steps into improvised music. His CD "Bhavan", which was released in 2004, was produced by Chicago based musician and journalist John Corbett. In the same year he moved to Berlin and has since been regularly playing with internationally recognized improvisers such as John Edwards, Mark Sanders, George Lewis, Johannes Bauer, Jeb Bishop, Tobias Delius, Olaf Rupp, Paul Lovens, Toshimaru Nakamura, Clayton Thomas, Michael Vorfeld, Axel Dörner, and many more. He is a member of the 24-piece improvising ensemble, "Splitter Orchester", and was also a member of the "German-French Jazzensemble" under the direction of Albert Mangelsdorff. In addition, Müller is also active in the field of contemporary music, having worked with the Berlin-based ensembles "Xenon", "Work In Progress", and "Zinc & Copper Works". He also took part in the performance and CD-recording of composer Mark Andre's opera "...22, 13...". Müller has toured Africa, Asia, North America and many countries in Europe, having played on numerous festivals, and released more than 20 CDs of his own projects."

-Matthias Muller Website (http://matthiasmueller.net/about)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Matthias Muche (D) trombone, born in 1972 lives in Cologne and works as musician and media artist. He studied trombone at the Amsterdam School of the Arts, in Rotterdam and at the "Hochschule für Musik" in Cologne with Bart van Lier, Henning Berg and Paulo Alvares and also audiovisual media with Anthony Moore at the academy of media arts cologne. Muche works in several formations, e.g. with the James Choice Orchestra, Das Mollsche Gesetz, Nils Klein Tentett, Schäl Sick Brass Band and with Mischa Mengelberg, Larry Ochs and Robyn Schulkowsky, having concert tours through Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

~~

As media artist, Muche combines contemporary music with new media in his audiovisual works. his latest works were presented in bern, paris and during the Art Cologne. Together with Sven Hahne he has been Artistic Director of the FRISCHZELLE festival for Intermedial Performance since 2004. Furthermore he is founder member of ZEITKUNST, which is an association for the advancement and conveyance of audiovisual art."

-Timeart Ensemble Website (http://zeitkunst.eu/index.php?zone=proj&feld=hots)
3/13/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Mu 9:49

2. Mu 6:47

3. Ma 3:03

4. Tti 12:11

Related Categories of Interest:


Creative Sources
Improvised Music
Jazz
European Improvisation and Experimental Forms
Free Improvisation
Duo Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
Creative Sources.


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