Actions

"Arranged and conducted by Mats Gustafsson, Fire! Orchestra present a new reading of Krzysztof Penderecki's Actions for Free Jazz Orchestra. The work's 1971 debut was performed by Don Cherry's New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra ... The instrumentation is almost identical to the 1971 group's, though a tuba replaces one of the trombones and Celine Grangey's innovative live sound mix. The lone composition is 41-minutes long, lengthier almost by half than its predecessor ... The charts weave (seemingly alchemically) elements of blues, film music, progressive big-band jazz, ceremonial music, and improvisation. Sections will play elongated lines together as various players drop out or are added by improvising along. Dynamics are stretched to their limits and time becomes elastic while the band's expression remains remarkably tonal - even in very dissonant sections - with a remarkable awareness of rhythmic pulse ... Actions is essential, bracing, modern orchestral jazz".

Læs anmeldelse

"Arranged and conducted by Mats Gustafsson, Fire! Orchestra present a new reading of Krzysztof Penderecki's Actions for Free Jazz Orchestra. The work's 1971 debut was performed by Don Cherry's New Eternal Rhythm Orchestra ... The instrumentation is almost identical to the 1971 group's, though a tuba replaces one of the trombones and Celine Grangey's innovative live sound mix. The lone composition is 41-minutes long, lengthier almost by half than its predecessor ... The charts weave (seemingly alchemically) elements of blues, film music, progressive big-band jazz, ceremonial music, and improvisation. Sections will play elongated lines together as various players drop out or are added by improvising along. Dynamics are stretched to their limits and time becomes elastic while the band's expression remains remarkably tonal - even in very dissonant sections - with a remarkable awareness of rhythmic pulse ... Actions is essential, bracing, modern orchestral jazz".

Læs anmeldelse

"The single-track 'Actions' unfolds gradually with subtle timbral contrasts - a spare ringing guitar - festering organ pads - and solos that imbue colors rather than explosive energies. There's even a harmonized tutti section with an emphatic end point. [Mats] Gustafsson, who also conducts, turns in a climactic passage (...) that's just as gutsy as Peter Brötzmann's spotlit part was the first time around. The European players here all seem to have open ears, collaborating with a suspenseful linear sense, yet different "actions" - a flute air, tom-toms on low boil - emerge as key points after each listen. There's some wild polyphony as the orchestra approaches its conclusion, but kudos are most deserved for Fire's sensitive deployment of creative freedom within generous, although still defined, boundaries".

"The single-track 'Actions' unfolds gradually with subtle timbral contrasts - a spare ringing guitar - festering organ pads - and solos that imbue colors rather than explosive energies. There's even a harmonized tutti section with an emphatic end point. [Mats] Gustafsson, who also conducts, turns in a climactic passage (...) that's just as gutsy as Peter Brötzmann's spotlit part was the first time around. The European players here all seem to have open ears, collaborating with a suspenseful linear sense, yet different "actions" - a flute air, tom-toms on low boil - emerge as key points after each listen. There's some wild polyphony as the orchestra approaches its conclusion, but kudos are most deserved for Fire's sensitive deployment of creative freedom within generous, although still defined, boundaries".