SIMON NABATOV - No Kharms Done
Leo Records CD LR 923
Simon Nabatov, piano; Phil Minton, voice; Matthias Schubert, tenor saxophone; Wolter Wierbos, trombone; Jim Black, drums, live electronics
Recorded at LOFT Studio, Cologne, Germany, September 26 2021
Nabatov has returned to the Russian writer Daniil Kharms for inspiration for No Kharms Done, his latest release on Leo Records. He is accompanied by Matthias Schubert, one of the leading German saxophone players, noted for his inspired compositions, for his wealth of ideas in his improvisations and for his tremendously commanding performance. Alongside is
Wolter Wierbos, considered to be one of the world’s leading trombone players. He started in a brass band, but his principal interests are in precise chamber jazz, contemporary improvised and composed music and throbbing post-punk. Crucial to the vocal work is the renowned British singer, Phil Minton. He delivers a decidedly dramatic baritone, working in Free-improvising, Free-jazz arenas and concentrating on literary manuscripts. He also plays trumpet. Drummer Jim Black, from downtown New York, has accompanied many distinguished musicians including Laurie Anderson, Tim Berne, Uri Caine, Dave Douglas, Chris Speed, Lee Konitz and John Zorn.
The album really is a dedication to the work of Kharms (which is his stage name) and Minton recites or sings stories of hunger and persecution, by groans and shrieks, by wailing and whimpering or just plain stating the lyrics of these poems. The rhythms of the music are dramatically varied, creating shudders of surprise by ever-changing tempos of passages of differing lengths. The dynamics vary accordingly, helped by both trombone and saxophone, which add vigour to the pieces.
Nabatov is clearly in control and of course he too calls upon years of diverse experience in music and especially in his approach to literary works. He has collaborated with artists as diverse as Barry Altschul, Mark Feldman, Frank Gratkowski, Gerry Hemingway and Paul Motian. Another of his achievements is his Russian trilogy, also on Leo, based on creations by three, other, politically persecuted authors:
Master and Margarita, based on the novel by Mikhail Bulgakov – 2001; Nature Morte, based on the poem by Josef Brodsky – 2001; A Few Incidences, based on short texts by Daniil Kharms – 2004.
None of these creations, including ‘Kharms’ is intended to be ‘easy listening’ or merely ‘background’ music. They are not relaxing, peaceful or smooth. They are, however, pieces that you can listen to with great pleasure. They set out to do a job and achieve their end with aplomb, all their musicians’ skills fully observable. I do recommend them highly.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
Leo Records CD LR 923
Simon Nabatov, piano; Phil Minton, voice; Matthias Schubert, tenor saxophone; Wolter Wierbos, trombone; Jim Black, drums, live electronics
Recorded at LOFT Studio, Cologne, Germany, September 26 2021
Nabatov has returned to the Russian writer Daniil Kharms for inspiration for No Kharms Done, his latest release on Leo Records. He is accompanied by Matthias Schubert, one of the leading German saxophone players, noted for his inspired compositions, for his wealth of ideas in his improvisations and for his tremendously commanding performance. Alongside is
Wolter Wierbos, considered to be one of the world’s leading trombone players. He started in a brass band, but his principal interests are in precise chamber jazz, contemporary improvised and composed music and throbbing post-punk. Crucial to the vocal work is the renowned British singer, Phil Minton. He delivers a decidedly dramatic baritone, working in Free-improvising, Free-jazz arenas and concentrating on literary manuscripts. He also plays trumpet. Drummer Jim Black, from downtown New York, has accompanied many distinguished musicians including Laurie Anderson, Tim Berne, Uri Caine, Dave Douglas, Chris Speed, Lee Konitz and John Zorn.
The album really is a dedication to the work of Kharms (which is his stage name) and Minton recites or sings stories of hunger and persecution, by groans and shrieks, by wailing and whimpering or just plain stating the lyrics of these poems. The rhythms of the music are dramatically varied, creating shudders of surprise by ever-changing tempos of passages of differing lengths. The dynamics vary accordingly, helped by both trombone and saxophone, which add vigour to the pieces.
Nabatov is clearly in control and of course he too calls upon years of diverse experience in music and especially in his approach to literary works. He has collaborated with artists as diverse as Barry Altschul, Mark Feldman, Frank Gratkowski, Gerry Hemingway and Paul Motian. Another of his achievements is his Russian trilogy, also on Leo, based on creations by three, other, politically persecuted authors:
Master and Margarita, based on the novel by Mikhail Bulgakov – 2001; Nature Morte, based on the poem by Josef Brodsky – 2001; A Few Incidences, based on short texts by Daniil Kharms – 2004.
None of these creations, including ‘Kharms’ is intended to be ‘easy listening’ or merely ‘background’ music. They are not relaxing, peaceful or smooth. They are, however, pieces that you can listen to with great pleasure. They set out to do a job and achieve their end with aplomb, all their musicians’ skills fully observable. I do recommend them highly.
Reviewed by Ken Cheetham
