GIORGOS TABAKIS / REBECCA TRESCHER – Dual Nature-live sessions
ekFrassis Productions
Giorgos Tabakis, 7-string guitar; Rebecca Trescher, B♭ clarinet and bass clarinet
Recorded live 18/19 April 2019 in Athens, Greece
Bass clarinet? Now there’s a thing. About 1 metre tall, its keys occupy about 50cm of that length and you need a constructed, body-fitting support to hold its weight. Its tonal range is tremendous, greater than any other wind instrument, from the bassoon’s deep C to the dizzy heights of the soprano clarinet. In jazz, Wiki tells me, Eric Dolphy was the first major jazz soloist on the instrument, and established much of the vocabulary and technique used by later performers. Jazz saxophonists often use it as a second instrument – Coltrane, David Murray and Chris Potter are among them.
The collaboration in this album has produced a collection of music based around original compositions for both instruments, drawing from European jazz and contemporary classical sources as well as Greek folk traditions. The duo has produced a unique and personal language and grammar, performing these inimitable pieces in an effortless, singular aesthetic. Such is the air of creativity generated by these fine musicians, one feels that it augurs well for further development of their spontaneity and acoustic innovation.
Rebecca Trescher has a Music Master’s degree in jazz clarinet and composition and is a member of several small music groups, while her collaboration with guitarist George Tabakis arises from a new stimulus and the exchange of musical languages, found between the genres of contemporary classical music and jazz. Tabakis’ interest in the artistic spectrum of contemporary creative music leads him to composition, improvisation and live music presentation, in performances and projects for contemporary dance, experimental theatre, documentaries, silent film and action painting.
A very well-matched duality, as you will hear and a remarkably fine starting point if the bass clarinet is new to your ear. It’s gorgeous.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
ekFrassis Productions
Giorgos Tabakis, 7-string guitar; Rebecca Trescher, B♭ clarinet and bass clarinet
Recorded live 18/19 April 2019 in Athens, Greece
Bass clarinet? Now there’s a thing. About 1 metre tall, its keys occupy about 50cm of that length and you need a constructed, body-fitting support to hold its weight. Its tonal range is tremendous, greater than any other wind instrument, from the bassoon’s deep C to the dizzy heights of the soprano clarinet. In jazz, Wiki tells me, Eric Dolphy was the first major jazz soloist on the instrument, and established much of the vocabulary and technique used by later performers. Jazz saxophonists often use it as a second instrument – Coltrane, David Murray and Chris Potter are among them.
The collaboration in this album has produced a collection of music based around original compositions for both instruments, drawing from European jazz and contemporary classical sources as well as Greek folk traditions. The duo has produced a unique and personal language and grammar, performing these inimitable pieces in an effortless, singular aesthetic. Such is the air of creativity generated by these fine musicians, one feels that it augurs well for further development of their spontaneity and acoustic innovation.
Rebecca Trescher has a Music Master’s degree in jazz clarinet and composition and is a member of several small music groups, while her collaboration with guitarist George Tabakis arises from a new stimulus and the exchange of musical languages, found between the genres of contemporary classical music and jazz. Tabakis’ interest in the artistic spectrum of contemporary creative music leads him to composition, improvisation and live music presentation, in performances and projects for contemporary dance, experimental theatre, documentaries, silent film and action painting.
A very well-matched duality, as you will hear and a remarkably fine starting point if the bass clarinet is new to your ear. It’s gorgeous.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
