INTAKT
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Co
Streiff Sextett
Loops, Holes, Angels. Intakt CD 119
Auf ihrem
Zweitling führt die Band der Schweizer Saxofonistin ihre Klasse
fort, führt ihre Themen eng, macht sie stark und erfindet sie gleichsam
neu. Es gibt wohl keine andere Schweizer, ja europäische Band,
die sich vor allem der afrikanischen Musiktradition so bewusst ist und
sie derart lebendig und intelligent in ihrem Spiel reflektiert und einarbeitet.
Co Streiffs Klang ist bester europäischer Jazz, gespielt mit der
klaren Kenntnis um die anderen ethnischen Kontexte und Hintergründe,
in denen Musik erst entstehen kann. Dieses Ensemble hat ein einzigartiges
Gespür dafür entwickelt, und auch den Mut, falsche Geschichte
und kulturelle Fassaden zu verlassen.
Swiss saxophonist Co Streiff
and her sextet offer a virtual sightseeing tour of progressive jazz
dipped in a variety of world-music including Middle Eastern modal structures.
Barriers don’t exist here as the band take in avant-blues riffs,
torrid improvisational maneuvers and much more. It’s an entertaining
ride. On “Chtau,” Ben Jeger’s revved-up Farfisa keyboard
sounds like a mini-Moog. Or is it an analogue synth? Whatever it is,
on this track Jeger multitasks with his accordion, creating a North
African/progressive jazz groove accentuated by Streiff’s rippling
soprano saxophone solo. Overall, Streiff’s classy stylizations
and fertile imagination yield bountiful dividends.
Christian Rentsch, Jazz'n'More, Mai 2007
Alex Dutilh, Jazzman, Paris, June 2007
Guido Fischer, Jazzthetik, Juni 2007
Hans-Jürgen von Osterhausen, Jazzpodium, Stuttgart, Juni 2007
Randal McIrloy, Coda Magazine, Canada, July, August
Featuring Co Streiff - alto
sax, soprano sax; Tommy Meier - tenor sax, bass clarinet, balafon; Russ
Johnson - trumpet, flugelhorn; Ben Jeger - piano, farfisa, clavinet,
accordion; Christian Weber - double bass and Fredi Flukiger drums, percussion,
balafon. This is the third disc on Intakt featuring Swiss reeds great,
bandleader and master-composer, Ms. Co Streiff and again she has put
together an incredible and unique modern jazz sextet with some strong
African influences. This appears to be an international sextet with
just a couple of members that I am previously familiar with like the
NY-based trumpet great Russ Johnson, Omnitone recording artist and once
a member of The Other Quartet and bassist Christian Weber who has worked
with Day & Taxi and Momentum and has a couple of more recent discs
out on Hatology. All but one of the pieces here was composed by Ms.
Streiff or her fellow reedsman Tommy Meier. The title track opens with
both saxes and trumpet weaving the lines around one another as piano,
bass and drums swirl tightly below, eventually evolving into a more
sparse freer section and them back to the sumptuous theme. "Laban
Ko" was written by Malinese singer Nahawa Doumbia and features
some superb balafon playing (African marimba) and a great, funky groove.
I dig the spaced-out Sun Ra-like Farfisa on "Aka", as well
as the hypnotic, laid back groove of "Batak" with some righteous
harmonies for the horns. Russ Johnson's trumpet solo here is filled
with beauty, creativity and quiet fire and is followed by an equally
superb soprano sax solo by Ms. Streiff. There is an underlying dreamy
quality that pervades this disc and is illustrated best on the mysterious,
supremely melodic and somewhat Sun Ra-like "Le Matin Blanc".
Mr. Meier, who composed this beaut, also plays a great swaggering tenor
solo. "Chtau" begins with some cosmic Farfisa space organ
and an ancient-to-the-future sort of African type of groove. The thing
that stands our the most throughout this disc is the wonderful writing
for the three horns and keyboards, thoughtful harmonies beneath each
inspired solo. Bruce Lee, Mikey "IQ" Jones & Manny "Lunch"
all give this gem a hefty thumbs up! -
Streiff on a duet recording
she did with pianist Irene Schweizer. It was a fine recording where
the two were well-matched and Streiff composed most of the material.
Streiff’s first release with her sextet, 2003’s Qattara,
was an intriguing blend of pieces by Roscoe Mitchell and Joseph Jarman
with originals inspired by North African rhythms and melodies. It was
quite a unique brew. Loops, Holes And Angels continues on that path
yet is clearly the band having progressed three years on. The African
element is still clearly a part of Steiff’s music. The most overt
example is the one cover on the disc, a version of “Labon Ko”
by Malian singer Nahawa Doumbia. It’s a nice arrangement with
a rhythmic base of two balafons laying down a clattering percussive
ostinato and the horns essaying the piquant line above. “Aka”
and “Batak” by saxophonist Meier follow and maintain the
ethnic brew. “Batak” is redolent of gamelan music with its
clanging percussion. But the Jazz element is equally strong in this
music. “Le Matin Blanc” is a cousin to Archie Shepp’s
“Le Matin Des Noirs” (it’s on New Thing At Newport)
with its loping gait and striking theme played by muted horns. Streiff’s
“Chtau” is a playful theme whose rhythm is influenced by
Balkan metric weirdness. Every piece here has something a little different
to offer. Streiff’s sextet has remained stable over the past three
years. Of the current lineup only American trumpet player Russ Johnson
is new. She has assembled a crack ensemble. Tommy Meier has a gruff,
appealing sound on tenor and it works nicely with Streiff’s sleek
and vibrant alto and soprano. Johnson’s trumpet rounds out the
front line with powerful playing. I initially found Ben Jeger’s
electric keyboards a bit intrusive but repeated listenings have given
them a crucial place in the arrangements. The rhythm section of Weber
and Flukiger is comfortable whether driving ahead on a piece like “Kirui”
or pounding out the staggered rhythms of “Chtau.” This is
a remarkable record and hopefully Streiff will get more attention with
this, her sextet’s second release. And let’s hope we don’t
have to wait four more years for a follow-up.
Brian Morton, The Wire, August 2007
On ne pourra reprocher à
Co Streiff son manque d'ouverture, son désir d'arpenter large
(blues, jazz, klezmer, tendances africaines, improvisation). Ici, Co
Streiff sait mettre en valeur ses propres compositions et celles du
saxophoniste Tommy Meier à travers des arrangements inspirés,
rigoureux. Soit un art de la justesse et de la précision qui
ne fait aucun doute.
Chris Searle, Morning Star, May 31 2012, Great Britain
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