An Evil Clown And A Leap Of Faith
by Karl Ackermann, AllAboutJazz
”The core collective under Evil Clown is Leap of Faith, which when expanded to the
Leap of Faith Orchestra includes players from Metal Chaos Ensemble, String Theory,
Turbulence and Mekaniks. The common denominators in these collectives is the
presence of PEK in each, and a completely unorthodox approach to creative
improvisation. An unfamiliar listener, dropping into an Evil Clown recording may find
themselves submerged in world of musical anarchy but there is a hidden order
behind the apparent mayhem....”
On Leap of Faith Orchestra - Possible Universes...
The highly capable improvisers engaged by PEK are participating in the composer's
unique method of Frame Notation… Along with strings and three basses, a large
assortment of percussion instruments, and two tubas, the orchestra utilizes an
assortment of non-conventional devices such as bullroarers, claves, flex-a-tones,
slide whistles, wind sirens, crank sirens, bells, Tibetan bowls, ratchets and a tube-o-
phone… Possible Universes works in a surprisingly paradoxical way, allowing
structure and freedom to coexist, while constantly challenging the ear. It's not quite
like anything else.
- Karl Ackermann, AllAboutJazz
On Leap of Faith Orchestra - Supernovae...
”PEK's ensemble—not surprisingly—includes enough non-traditional and weird
instruments to compete with a Dr. Seuss orchestra... As with all of PEK's
compositions, there is—behind the scenes—a painstaking amount of organization
that is not always evident in the listening. That is part of the beauty of this album;
the non-traditional approach to instrumentation and the lack of adherence to
Western structure continue to make the various iterations of Leap of Faith
consistently interesting.”
- Karl Ackermann, AllAboutJazz
On Leap of Faith Orchestra - The Expanding Universe...
”The sole track (being the title track) is a sprawling epic at seventy-seven minutes
and does indeed deviate between the austere and the chaotic, but as always,
composer PEK has a higher purpose. Swerving whistles and a siren usher in the
piece with no small amount of urgency building to a crescendo of noise before a lone
tuba replaces near-calamity with dark mystery. Later, piano and alternate devices
struggle for dominance, lopsided melodies collide with bells, blocks and cymbals in a
musical representation of the album's stated theme... Like any uncharted
exploration, attention to detail makes this experimental journey a memorable
experience.”
- Karl Ackermann, AllAboutJazz
On Leap of Faith / Thomas Heberer - Solution Concepts...
”Starting out and fits and starts like an extended warm-up, 'Subgame' doesn't take
much of its almost forty minutes to be convincingly harrowing. With barely the trace
of a melody, the marathon number nevertheless captures some satisfying but
inexpressible spirit of wild abandon...
...their output has been prolific and varied. PEK and Lomon have worked in
formations from duo to large ensembles. Heberer's presence on Solution Concepts
makes it quite different from earlier Leap of Faith albums but true to the
experimental vision that PEK and Lomon first realized more than twenty years ago.
The music on Solution Concepts is probing, intelligent and—in some instances—
poignant.”
- Karl Ackermann, AllAboutJazz.com
On Metal Chaos Ensemble - Intermetallic Compounds...
”As the layers begin to build, we enter into something like a grandfather clock
factory run amok as sounds swirl together around a warped melody... PEK and
company use every available tool to its maximum functionality on an extended aural
improvisation that marries people and their tools. Intermetallic Compounds is
mesmerizing and filled with an expectancy only for the next unexpected turn of
events. This is living, breathing art in every sense of the word.”
- Karl Ackermann, allaboutjazz.com
On Metal Chaos Ensemble - War Tuba...
”War Tuba is a free improv world music spree unlike most anything I've heard. With
the respective musicians' use of the aquasonic waterphone percussion instrument,
jangling chains, metal objects, game calls, piccolo copper clarinet and other off the
beaten path implements, the trio abides by a euphorically executed campaign. Think
of ancient rituals with some degree of bombast, coinciding with PEK's various reeds
and horns dialogues, enamored by the pristine audio characteristics.”
- Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
On Turbulence - Vortex Generation Mechanisms...
”It seamlessly moves across terrains that greatly vary in texture.... Vortex
Generation Mechanisms veers between minimalism and an air-driven calliope coming
off the rails. Despite employing a plethora of non-conventional tools, the music
always has a sense of meaningfulness; it can be calming and disconnected at the
same time. As a result, it is always more provoking than pacifying. Like much Evil
Clown's output, this is a project that organically grows with each listening.”
- Karl Ackermann, All About Jazz.com
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