|
|
|
Reviews / Quotes
Tinderbox (DATA:031)
All Music Guide, AMG Rating: ****
There is no way to pin down Cor Fuhler. This pianist seems to reinvent himself with every project he plays in -- if not every tune. This trio with drummer Han Bennink and bassist Wilbert De Joode covers a lot of ground between straight-ahead bop and noisy free improvisation. Strongly anchored in jazz, it hides a surprise around every corner. In the quietest, jazziest moments Fuhler's playing flourishes into beautiful dreamy ruminations. But things are rarely what they seem to be. “Close Match" sticks to the bop ballad format for most of its duration, with only Bennink stepping out for his trademark punches out of nowhere. “Polykhameskero" starts in a pretty straightforward way too, once again Fuhler developing a delicate theme, but halfway through Hell breaks loose. Bennink starts rummaging, De Joode shifts from notes to grainy textures and Fuhler trades the piano for the screechy keyolin (a keyboard-violin Frankenstein-esque hybrid) before turning to the celesta for the finale. In the opener “Kirkology," he goes back and forth between the high range of the piano where he plays trickling variations on a theme and the low end where objects on the strings make them sound plinky-plonky -- all to great effect. The jazz tunes are genuine and the way they get expanded and launched into free improv space is exciting and honest, not a comedy shtick at all. Throughout this album (culled from two live sets at the BIMhuis in June 2002), De Joode gracefully assumes the anchoring role. Bennink is in great shape, playful, naughty and entertaining. So in the end Tinderbox offers a comfortable listen, even for the newcomer to avant-garde jazz, but never lets you down. It takes you to different places without you being aware of travelling. Recommended.
François Couture
Musician and composer Cor Fuhler (1964) is one of those new talents in the scene of dutch improvised music, who came in picture in the 90s. Probably he is most known for his work as a member of Palinckx, but his own national and international projects and collaborations are numerous. He studied piano in Amsterdam, Misha Mengelberg being one of his teachers. He is interested in expanding the sound of the piano. His solo-alum '7 CC on IO' on Geestgronden is a good example if this research. Also he is interested in expanding the world of sound as such where he builds his own instruments like the keyolin: a instrument that combines a keyboard with violin. In 1995 he started his trio with Bennink and de Joode. In 1998 two cds of this trio were released. Now we have a third very welcome release of this trio It is one of his most jazzy outfits of Fuhle. He plays piano, melodica, celeste and keyolin, with omnipresent Bennink on drums and de Joode on double bass. They make use of traditional jazz forms but absolutely not in some retro romantic way. Also the traditional elements are not treated as cliches being a thankfull object for some ironic treatment. No, what we have here is a very intelligent 'upgrading' of jazz by making use distorted and unexpected sounds and moves. The music is full of humour, great sensibility, elegance and swing. The players complement each other well and interact with subtile and detailed playing. They are not playing for their own fun only, but for your fun also!
DM dolf mulder
|
|
