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Markus Stockhausen/Arild Anderson/Patrice Héral/Terje Rypdal
Karta
(ECM)
Trumpet player Markus Stockhausen and bassist Arild Anderson have played together since 1996, when they perform in Athens with an ensemble of Greek musicians. In 1998 they formed a trio with drummer Patrice Héral. At the suggestion of ECM's producer Manfred Eicher, guitarist Terje Rypdal guests on the trio's debut recording, Karta. Rypdal is a very nice addition to the record with some of his loosest playing in recent years. (Rypdal works well with Anderson; he played with Anderson way back in 1970, but they have only played together infrequently since then.) Although both Stockhausen and Anderson brought compositions to the session, most of the tracks ended up coming from studio improvisations. The album begins with a composition by Anderson, the atmospheric and spacey "Sezopen."
Some highlights of the improvised pieces: The short piece, "Wood and Naphta," opens with an impassioned bass/percussion duet, soon joined by trumpet. "Sway" starts with hand drums, then Anderson's deep bass enters, followed by some distorted guitar from Rypdal. "Auma" is a bit more static and stationary, with good guitar and percussion. On the Miles Davis tribute, "Legacy," Stockhausen has a long, beautiful muted trumpet solo. On "Wild Cat" Rypdal lets loose with some furious guitar. "Emanation" starts with an intense bass solo with Rypdal riffing behind, then the piece softens as the trumpet enters, and electronics and percussion come in underneath.
Much of this album reminds me of some of Terje Rypdal's earlier work—Descendre (with trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg) or on Barre Phillips's Three Day Moon—both from 1979. At times, all members of the group use some form of electronic modification of their instruments, which broadens and deepens the sound of the group. Their sound also includes elements of free jazz and some rock music textures.
At the close, the fury subsides as the album returns to the more atmospheric feeling of the beginning with a second composition by Anderson, "Lighthouse." Karta is an exquisite album; an album of energetic and concentrated improvisation in a dreamlike atmosphere.
— Alan Lankin, April 2001
Release Date: 23 January 2001
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last update 21 April 2001