The Squid's Ear Magazine


Zoor: Volumes A + B (Umlaut Records)

The French trio of saxophonist Bertrand Denzler, guitarist Jean-Sebastien Mariage and drummer Antonin Gerbal in two extended works beginning and ending on a sustained plateau while maintaining a constant state of anticipatory suspense using no electronics, treatments or effects.
 

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Personnel:



Bertrand Denzler-tenor saxophone

Jean-Sebastian Mariage-electric guitar

Antonin Gerbal-drums


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UPC: 7319200000332

Label: Umlaut Records
Catalog ID: umfr-cd08
Squidco Product Code: 20848

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2013
Country: Sweden / France / Germany
Packaging: Digipack - 3 panel

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Zoor is a French trio consisting of tenor saxophonist Bertrand Denzler, electric guitarist Jean-Sébastien Mariage and drummer Antonin Gerbal. All three have considerable experience with other bands -Gerbal in the jazz trio Peeping Tom and the improv trio R Mutt, both with releases on Umlaut, of which Gerbal was a co-founder in 2009. Denzler is well known for his albums on Potlatch, notably his innovative solo sax record Tenor (Potlatch, 2010) and in the sax quartet Propagations (Potlatch, 2007); he has also recorded with Mariage for Creative Sources. But, prior to Zoor, Denzler and Mariage's main collaboration was in the long-standing (together since 1999) quintet Hubbub. That prolonged association means that Denzler and Mariage are used to playing together and so form the axis of Zoor.

Although this trio has been together since 2011 and they have gigged together regularly, Volumes A + B is their first album release. It consists of two extended pieces (the "Volume A" and "Volume B" of the title) which are about forty and thirty minutes long, respectively. Both were recorded live, the former in April 2013, the latter two months later. Denzler has spoken of the idea he had for Zoor as a trio which would play improvised music but without extended techniques. Refreshingly, in Zoor all three instruments are clearly discernible throughout, with no electronics, treatments or effects, thereby fulfilling Denzler's desire to use the "traditional" sound of each instrument.

With all three playing constantly, a dynamic tension is ever-present between them, with no-one soloing, taking the lead or dominating-truly, a very even music. The extended duration of the pieces is the key to their appeal and success; nothing here sounds rushed or forced and, when appropriate, notes are sustained or repeated for as long as needed. Frequently, a musician seems to be savoring the sound of their own instrument and the way it interacts and blends with the others; over repeated listenings, that is a pleasure the listener will also share. More volumes soon, s'il vous plait..."-John Eyles, All About Jazz


Get additional information at All About Jazz

Artist Biographies

"Bertrand Denzler is a tenor saxophone player. He has played in Europe and Latin America both as a solo act and with musicians such as Xavier Charles, Peter Frils Nielsen, Jean-Luc Guionnet, Barry Guy, Ninh Lê Quan, Urs Leimgruber, Günter Müller, Bob Ostertag, Norbert Pfammatter, Hasse Poulsen, Mark Sanders, Mathieu Werchowski, and Otomo Yoshihide. He is a member of the groups Hubbub, Nanocluster, Laps, Denzler-Mariage, A3/1, and Chamaeleo Vulgaris. He has put out a number of compact discs on various labels."-ActuelleCD.com (http://www.actuellecd.com/en/bio/denzler_be/)
3/27/2024

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

"Since the release of File under: Bebop - Peeping Tom in 2009, Antonin Gerbal has developed his own approach of the drums - reinterpreting history of jazz drumming through the prism of european musical improvisation. Improviser, composer, teacher and performer, Antonin Gerbal is associated with the vitality of the Parisian music scene, notably through Umlaut Records. He has performed in Europe, U.S., Russia and Japan, with many original projects such as Nakasanye, Zoor, ISM or Peeping Tom. Involved in large ensembles such as ONCEIM (playing pieces Eliane Radigue or Stephen O'Malley) and Umlaut Big Band (swing dancing band), Antonin Gerbal works regularly with English, German, Swiss and Japanese artists. At the begining of 2016, he releases his solo works called Sound of Drums."

-Antonin Gerbal Website (http://antoningerbal.com/about)
3/27/2024

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


Track Listing:



1. Volume A 40:01

2. Volume B 30:02

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
European Improvisation and Experimental Forms
Trio Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
Umlaut Records.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

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