GEORGE HASLAM & FRIENDS - Loveland
SLAM Productions SLAMCD 335
George Haslam: Baritone Sax, Tarogato; Stefano Pastor: Electric Violin, Kalimba; Jan Faix: Synthesizer, Melodica; Jozef Láska: Upright Bass, Bass Guitar; Jan Sĭkl: Drums
Recorded 10/09/2010 at Rybanaruby, Prague, Czech Republic
Rybanaruby is part café, part live music venue, part shop, where music, both live and recorded, is on sale from the basement. George Haslam’s music, though, can hardly be considered ‘underground’ these days, nor even 10 years ago when this recording was made. Haslam continues to explore beyond the boundaries of jazz as we know it: the piercing shrillness of the tarogato and the sheer immensity of the baritone saxophone’s tonal stature seeming to lend themselves quite naturally to his forward inclination towards ever-developing improvisation.
Stefano Pastor has an expressive style which is sometimes jittery, perhaps because of his use of guitar strings instead of those for the violin. These will of course deliver a different kind of timbre. He too continues to learn more of his instruments and to strive to understand what else can they do to help with his configurations and inventiveness.
Keys, bass and drums all contribute to the opulence of these contemplative sentiments and all participants are clearly striving to reveal the creative power, imagination, inspiration and originality in the central carcass of the entire body of this music. Haslam and Pastor pair well as two gifted performers who thoroughly comprehend their instruments and have a firm grasp of where and how they can use them.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
SLAM Productions SLAMCD 335
George Haslam: Baritone Sax, Tarogato; Stefano Pastor: Electric Violin, Kalimba; Jan Faix: Synthesizer, Melodica; Jozef Láska: Upright Bass, Bass Guitar; Jan Sĭkl: Drums
Recorded 10/09/2010 at Rybanaruby, Prague, Czech Republic
Rybanaruby is part café, part live music venue, part shop, where music, both live and recorded, is on sale from the basement. George Haslam’s music, though, can hardly be considered ‘underground’ these days, nor even 10 years ago when this recording was made. Haslam continues to explore beyond the boundaries of jazz as we know it: the piercing shrillness of the tarogato and the sheer immensity of the baritone saxophone’s tonal stature seeming to lend themselves quite naturally to his forward inclination towards ever-developing improvisation.
Stefano Pastor has an expressive style which is sometimes jittery, perhaps because of his use of guitar strings instead of those for the violin. These will of course deliver a different kind of timbre. He too continues to learn more of his instruments and to strive to understand what else can they do to help with his configurations and inventiveness.
Keys, bass and drums all contribute to the opulence of these contemplative sentiments and all participants are clearly striving to reveal the creative power, imagination, inspiration and originality in the central carcass of the entire body of this music. Haslam and Pastor pair well as two gifted performers who thoroughly comprehend their instruments and have a firm grasp of where and how they can use them.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
