Six focused, quartet improvisations with complex, independent layers of rich textures. Featuring Dutch vocalist/sound-poet Jaap Blonk and three Texas improvisors.
Liner Notes:
Immerse in the magnetic world of this dangerously dreaming entity.
Its bass body opens widely, through its depths we travel into magic spheres.
Clouds turn to stone, plummeting upward, waywardly.
Crisp kisses that peel layers off memory and climb
higher
Into being.
A transformation takes place: The bass breathes, sings, snarls, murmurs, hisses, vibrantly bends and stretches.
Thrash the urge that would knock twice before
scuttling off into darkness, black as pitch, and fathomless
as the heart.
Mystical sounds are brought to us. We listen, dream, follow:
Stones fade to clouds. Downward ascension that puckers
lips...but is left waiting. Nestle the urge that knocks only
once
after marching out of the light. A heart counts in beats...
and knows no fathoms.
Awaken to new sense. We are propulsed into a new era.
-PascAli
New York City
December 10th, 2013
Incidental notes:
I first worked with Jaap Blonk in 1998 in Palermo, Sicily, in a quartet with the great alto player Gianni Gebbia. It was my first time overseas and my first European festival. In the last few years we have been able to work together again in Houston, TX. This music was recorded on short tour with two of the most important improvisors in Texas.
When I started this label in 2001. I decided to use writings by bass players for the liner notes, based on an idea by William Parker (who wrote notes for BPA 015).
In this case, my playing at this session was very directly influenced by the extreme prepared bass ideas documented on PascAli's incredible double bass duo album, Suspicious Activity. So it was fortunate that they wrote my first set of notes from a bass duo.
The quartet would like to thank Neal D. Retke & Real Ale Brewery in Blanco, Texas.
Damon Smith, December 2013
credits
released April 1, 2014
Jaap Blonk -- voice, electronics
Sandy Ewen -- guitar, objects
Damon Smith -- prepared double bass
Chris Cogburn -- percussion
Edited, Mixed & Mastered by Ryan Edwards
Recorded by Mike Kosacek at Double Dog Studios
June 1st 2013 in Round Rock, Texas
Liner notes by PascAli: Pascal Niggenkemper & Sean Ali
Design by Alan Anzalone
Cover art by Jaap Blonk
supported by 31 fans who also own “BPA 016 North of Blanco”
Simply amazing to hear a new album with Wadada and Ewart!! ...And Reed rounds out this trio beautifully.
Just gave it my first spin. Absolutely magical. jeffrey maurer
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