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February 2008
gig reviews

Phronesis
Barry Green
Dan Stern
Gwilym Simcock
Tangent

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February 2008 gig reviews by Chris Parker

Phronesis

Tuesday 12 February

Given that Phronesis's album, Organic Warfare (Loop Records), is described, elsewhere on this site, as containing 'eleven pieces of fiercely interactive, often climactic music growing naturally from the considerable individual strengths of its three participants', it was heartening to find that Copenhagen-born bassist Jasper H“iby's compositions maintained their highly individual appeal when addressed by a different line-up: alongside the leader on this occasion were pianist Ivo Neame and drummer Patrick Davey.

H“iby describes his tunes' defining characteristic well: '[my music] often plays around with repetition in order to emphasise and dramatise change when and if it finally occurs'; accordingly, sparked by a repeated Ø but not necessarily simple Ø bass figure, the band feel their way into a groove, slowly shifting its emphases and subtly altering its dynamics as they go until all its many and varied possibilities have been explored.

Of course, this approach does result, as suggested by the CD review, in the participants' individual strengths actually informing the music to an unusual degree, so Neame's unshowy but absorbing, thoughtful approach to piano playing rendered his solo excursions more contemplative than Magnus Hjorth's on the album, and drummer Davey, likewise, put in a slightly more restrained performance than Anton Eger, but was none the less cogent; all in all, though, what was chiefly impressive about this wholly enjoyable gig (played to an extremely healthy-sized audience) was the power, originality and adaptability of H“iby's material; as well as being a remarkably vigorous yet subtle bassist, his playing lithe and propulsive yet flawlessly melodic where required, he is also a notable composer.

 

 

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