The Belgian creative improvising quartet Kabas of Jan Daelman on flute, Thijs Troch on piano, Nils Vermeulen on double bass, and Elias Devoldere on drums for a 2-CD release, one album in studio with trumpeter Luis Vicente (Deux Maisons, Chamber 4), and one live at Portugal's SMUP with both Vicente and percussionist Carlos Godinho (Variable Geometry Orchestra).
Format: 2 CDs Condition: New Released: 2017 Country: UK Packaging: Digipack - 4 panel CD1 recorded at Namouche Studios, in Lisbon, Portugal, on January 4th, 2017 by Joaquim Monte.
CD2 recorded at SMUP, in Parade, Portugal, on January 5th, 2017, by Claudio Rega.
"Last summer, while visiting the Alentejo coast, I had a caldeirada (a traditional fish stew) that completely knocked me over. It was then and there, during my ninth visit to Portugal, that I finally understood how fond I have grown of the food, the landscape, the climate, the people and their way of doing things. It became clear to me that Portuguese culture is radically different from Belgian culture, but it is also surprising how quickly you adapt when you are there. You start having dinner later, take your time to think things through, remind yourself to breathe and have another glass of wine.
It is a way of doing things that fits the music of Belgian quartet Kabas. All four members have several other bands and projects, but few have the sense of restraint and thoughtfulness that Kabas has. Some would interpret their rather minimalist style of improvising as rigid, disciplined and in line with Scandinavian aesthetics, but to me, the open-ended and conversational approach somehow fits the Portuguese vibe. And just like the size and acoustics of a space can have its impact on a performance, time and geography undoubtedly affect what you play as an improvising unit.
When the four of them arrived in Lisbon in the first week of 2017, only one of them was familiar with the country (it is a classic story that involves an ex-lover and bittersweet emotions), while for the others, it was the first time to soak up the culture. I wonder how they reacted to the penetrating smells of grilled fish in the cobblestoned streets, the glorious cups of espresso, the pace, the easy meetings with locals and, of course, the nightlife, which they could explore in Lisbon, Parede, Porto and Guimarães.
I imagine that the new surroundings enabled them to explore their collective identity further as the nights went on. Even with a local guest, trumpet player Luís Vicente, there is no pressure to make quick and direct statements. Kabas' method avoids hierarchies and easy structures. It is a style that takes space and silence into consideration, one that allows individual ideas to simmer, but also to have a shapeshifting mass of sound change course or suddenly dissolve. Not all instruments are always recognizable as such and the subdued intensity makes you wonder what you just heard. Jazz, Satie, contemporary music, free shit. You might even question your own expectations as a listener.
There is a stimulating and refreshing curiosity in these two discs. Their crisscrossing ideas are like a timid dance across various surfaces, with each breath and touch given its own autonomy. It can be a challenge to grasp what is going on, but the tangible coherence is entirely theirs. Perhaps that is why these collaborations run so smoothly, as both Vicente (who was with them for the studio session and several concerts) and percussionist Carlos Godinho (who joined them at SMUP in Parede) fit in easily. It is Kabas' easy-going communication, that remarkable balance of surprise and familiarity, that allows them to invite people into their ranks without sacrificing their sound and identity."-Guy Peters, from the liner notes