veNN Circles feat G.Ferrandini Rec Rolling Tapes Bocian Records 2014 Duo with Piotr Damasiewicz .Improvised electroacoustic project referring to species such as the Free Improvisation, Electroacoustic Improvisation and broadly defined Live Electronics. http://venncirclesblog.blogspot.pt/ Venn Circle Quartet Damasiewicz/Lebik. This is a part of Kevin Le Gendre's (BBC Radio 3, Jazzwise) review for Polish Cultural Institute in London. A desire to experiment and walk on the tight rope of adventure if not risk may have loosely recalled some of the bold forays into the avant-garde of one of Ornette’s most simpatico partners, Don Cherry, but on the strength of this performance Damasiewicz fits into a lineage of brass players who are as intent on stretching the timbral possibilities of their instrument as they are flouting compositional convention. Hence echoes of Wadada Leo Smith, Arve Henriksen and Nate Wooley were all heard at various points in one continuous suite that hinged on the ability of an unusually configured quintet – two double basses, drums, tenor saxophone/electronics – to stitch together a patchwork of sound in which the tiniest threads of ideas were woven around ever alert minds. Damasiewicz’s input varied from circular rhythmic lines so soft that they were more breath than tone to blustery whole notes that were almost gothic baroque, while the squelches and slides of bass and discreet scrapes of timpani sticks on the drums made unsettled and unsettling purrs and growls that reinforced the general impression of a restless, unpredictable fauna. From behind the glow of the all too familiar bitten apple of his laptop, Gerard Lebik contributed much electronic snarl and snap, though his most arresting texture was created by two transistor radios producing a kind of rabid Greek chorus in tin can stereo. But things became too static thereafter. The natural build of tension called for a release that the players could not find and draught upon draught of studied noise induced a visible unease among some members of the audience waiting for the group to move on to new terrain. Whistles, sticks and shots of assorted percussion from Damasiewicz started to slowly unlock a new energy source which began to flow when he raised his head and played a series of harsh, open notes that galvanized the whole band. It was Cuong Vu in guerilla stance. The shift from his previous seated position to a standing one altered the entire mood of the set. With this final passage of the performance taking a more aggressive, almost industrial rock direction Damasiewicz displayed a degree of versatility and a sense of dynamics that were impressively mature. The kind of spontaneous invention that blurs the line between composition and improvisation is notoriously hard to get right, but he seems more than up to the task. It is definitely worth keeping an eye on his future development. ============ VITAL WEEKLY ============ number 896 --------------------- week 36 ---------------------
"free improv" by Gerard Lebik