Search - Guillerno Klein :: Una Nave: A Vessel

Transcendent, lush, vibrant, dense, simple, beautifully reco

p wood d | 11/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Una Nave is my first exposure to Klein and it ranks as one of my favorite recordings at this time. I was struck first by the transparency and immediacy of the recording. Every detail of the instruments and voices comes through (even the buzzes, clicks, and other noises that might otherwise be engineered out) giving it a rich, live quality. Then the beauty of the arrangements, the sublety of the musicians, and the balance of vocal and instrumental as well as slower and faster songs combine to emerse the listener in a rare listening experience.

I recently bought another CD of his, Los Gauchos III and was disappointed. Although the quality of the playing and the variety of the music are similarly excellent, I found that for me personally, compared to Una Nave, this CD seemed mechanical and lifeless. I hope other works of his shine as does Una Nave which I consider to be a masterpiece.

If I had to loosely compare his style to others, I might be inclined to mention Kip Hanrahan, Don Cherry, Bob Moses and John Pattitucci."

Stepping backward to go forward

Jan P. Dennis | Monument, CO USA | 05/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"With his fourth stateside release, Guillermo Klein, Argentine composer, bandleader, and keyboardist, has taken a roundabout way to advance his music: he's gone primitive. Perhaps not unlike what that other brilliant South American, Egberto Gismonti, did when he holed up in the jungle for two years studying the ethnic Indian pre-samba musics of northern Brazil, Klein has returned to his roots. For example, after wielding deft ensembles with some of the best and most prominent American jazzes on board on his first three discs, he here guides an outfit completely lacking recognizable names.



Consequently, the music takes on a far greater folkish directness and immediacy than previous outings. There's a vibrancy, a whiplash exuberance, a scampering, feral note not heretofore encountered in Klein's (or, for that matter, in almost any other) music. With a vibe perhaps not unlike that which Irvin Mayfield gets with his latest disc (Los Hombres Calientes Vol. 5: Carnival), though not sounding much like it, we're in musical territory seldom successfully assayed: chaotic, yet precise; folkloric, yet swingingly sophisticated; bursting with manic energy, yet strangely focused. Plus, there're several absolutely lovely interludes to calm things down and change the pace.



One thing I love about this disc is how it's recorded--it's like you're right there on the streets of Buenos Aires with the band: the sounds jump out at you, the imaging's crystal clear, there's a sonorousness, a thrumming thrust seldom achieved.



I'm entirely taken by this magical disc. Then again, I'm a sucker for top drawer world jazz, of which this is some of the most beguiling."

Anda en boca de todos...

Peppino | 05/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"¡ Bueno, entonces vamos al asunto !

Well not really, Guillermo Klein is a bit underappreciated, but..

this disc already has one entusiastic review,so I will add some additional "insights"



On this recording, GK has sintesised his approach to composition/arrangements into a more complete vision.



His 1st recording, "El Minotauro" was arranged with tighter chord voicings, and was a bit from formula, with obvious homage to his influences, both jazz/música latina , and also the folcloric influence of "River Plate musics" of native Argentina.



The 2 "Guachos" recordings were more "light on the feet", the compositions more introspective, and much use of counterpoint.



A more original caress is evident on those 2 recordings, as well as 1 composition per CD from the world's greatest composer/musician, Hermeto Pascoal!

This recording indicates wide variation in style, as well as it not just a "large band" ensemble, each track freatures a variation in line up, and "feeling".



La Nave unifies Guillermo Klein's musical vision, and his pianistics approach varies from the percussive forms favored by McCoy Tyner/Eddie Palmieri/Hermeto to a lighter Bill Evans touch.



This CD features much more vocalising, by GK ,than I was expecting. (He spent time playing "popular" musics as well as jazz and composition in his early days).



The languid, "smokey" vocals are delightful, very much sounding like his musical "brother" Hugo Fattoruso, from neighbor Uruguay.



A bit "off key" singing in the Jobim sense, GK is not a great vocalista, but his stylings fit the compositions perfectly.



A true watercolor of emotions and intellect, thundering waves of sound one moment, contrapuntal wizardry the next. we call this a musical polyglot, no? ( ¡¡ el poligloto!!)



Guillermo Klein continues to evolve as a true, and, still quite unheralded new voice in music!



Me gustó, pero sobre gustos no hay nada escrito. (that is to say, "purists" may not like the vocals, but give a try, they may grow on you).











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