FRISQUE CONCORDANCE

Frisque Concordance is the name for a very particular grouping of improvisers under the direction of Georg Graewe. This 1992 show is their second gig in as many years, and all of its improvisations come under the heading of Spellings. The lineup is Graewe on piano, Martin Blume on drums, John Butcher on saxophones, and Hans Schneider on bass. This set typifies a Graewe-led ensemble: slow, appropriately microtonal, and hauntingly strident in its use of empty intervals (fourths, ninths, etc.) in order to draw out his collaborators. Butcher adds his squeaks, sparingly at first, and then reaching for parity with Schneider, who is playing arco before pizzicato in pianississimo! How does this effect Blume? He stutters around creeping with his hands and brushes, whispering along a set pattern of accents before deferring to Graewe who uncorks things a bit and moves the dynamic tension up a notch, then tow before read more...