Search - Hilmar Jensson :: Tyft

Admirable work!

S. Hawkins | New York, NY | 04/18/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I purchased this CD at a concert given by this trio (which was a truly spectacular concert), and the CD has more than lived up to my expectations. While they don't stretch out nearly as far sonically on the CD as they did in live performance (as is generally the case), the album still presents them in wonderful form.As a composer, Jensson is quite interesting, opting for a wide range of sounds - Webern, Zorn, Ayler all are represented in spirit and style with these smart compositions.However, these pieces are merely launching pads for some amazing forays into sonic experimentation. All three musicians are masters at adding just the right combination and level of sounds - communicating wonderfully so that nobody is overwhelming the balance. However, they all manage to retain unique personalities in the mix - Jensson's spare guitar sound, D'Angelo's biting, dry sax, and Black's....well, unique (to understate it) drumming.Even more impressive than their ability to add the right sounds is their ability to shut up when needed. I find this especially nice as it generally seems to be lacking amongst free players, where the general rule of thumb is that a squeak must be audible at all times.All in all, a wonderful listen! Well-balanced playing, good compositions, and frequently exhilirating sonic barrages."