”Woodclock” - All About Jazz
Austrian, Vienna-based double bassist Gina Schwarz found a true, like-
minded musical partner that helped her realize her irreverent vision for
today's jazz. American drummerJim Black joined Schwarz's quintet for
her fifth album, solidifying her reputation as a “live-cell therapy to
jazz,” an opinionated musician who likes to play with opposites—wise
and free, gentle and wild, contemplative and energetic, organic and
eccentric, blending acoustic instruments with electronics.
When you think more about it, these descriptions characterize Black's
great groups since the beginning of the nineties. His bands refused to
play by the rules or to be relegated to any stylistic definition. Such
were his trio with saxophonist Ellery Eskelin and accordionistAndrea
Parkins, The Tiny Bell Trio led by trumpeter Dave Douglas or his own
groups with reeds player Chris Speed as Pachora, Alasnoaxis and
Human Feel.
Schwarz quintet, with keyboardist Benjamin Shatz, guitarist Heimo
Trixner and reedist Fabian Rucker, add an updated, refined Viennese
touch to the distinct, uninhibited drumming of Black. The clever, fast
shifting rhythm section of Schwarz and Black is now embraced by open
and intense interplay that simply calls to mess with with the pulse—
stretching it, mimicing it, beating it at its own game. Together the
quintet charge Schwarz's original compositions with passionate
urgency, still, enveloped in an emphatic interplay.
Schwarz's brilliant arrangement of Edgar Allen Poe poem “The Bells” as
the title piece, features vocalist Marco Blascetta and reflects faithfully
Woodclock's sonic vision. It is an intriguing, provocative piece, building
its tension skillfully, following the suggestive poetic lines: “Keeping
time, time, time, / In a sort of Runic Rhyme, / To the tintinnabulation
that so musically wells / From the bells, bells, bells, bells, bells, / Bells,
bells, bells—.” The heartfelt tribute to the late Charlie Haden, “From
Shenandoah” highlights Schwarz beautiful, folksy bass solo, gifted with
an immediate, emotional impact. The short free-improvised duets of
Schwarz and Black, “Rats & Bats” and “Broadcasters at work,” cement
the dynamic, rhythmic language that both have developed together,
spiced with sharp sense of humor.
Track Listing: Dr. Jekyll & Mrs. Hyde; Loophouse; Woodclock;
Morpheus; From Shenandoah; Rats & Bats; Ping Pong; Broadcasters At
Work.
Personnel: Fabian Rucker: saxophone, bass clarinet; Benjamin Schatz:
piano, keyboards; Heimo Trixner: guitar; Gina Schwarz: double bass;
Jim Black: drums; Marco Blascetta: vocals (3).
Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Cracked Anegg
By EYAL HAREUVENI
Published: July 2, 2016
Gina Schwarz Unit: Woodclock
By Raul da Gama - Jul 3, 2016
Ever since the brazen adventures of Airbass released in 2009 by the
extraordinary bassist Gina Schwarz, she has strengthened her
reputation as a musician and bassist of great repute. Since that
release, for instance, Schwarz has set no limits to her explorations.
Along the way, in a deftly balanced presentation of strikingly
contrasting essays throughJazzista and now Woodclock Gina Schwarz
offers beautifully turned, reflective and buoyant readings of sui generis
works. Woodclock, with its exquisite with its cracked, angular rhythms
is simply a pearl. Through it all Schwarz creates a portal into her world
– no different from some of the finest bassist of all time, bassists who
refused to be content with merely anchoring the rhythmic section of
her bands.
Gina Schwarz is a bassist with a deep knowledge of the bass. She is
blessed with a natural ability for intertwining lines of colour and texture
in a highly original manner. Her instrumental wizardry extends to an
inventive use of supra-polyphonic interpolations akin to a musician
playing the infinitely more versatile violin, transposing much of that
instruments versatility to the larger, infinitely more cumbersome
double bass. Great instrument aside, this is largely down to the
judicious alchemy of Schwarz’s perception of how musical architecture
and colour can collide to mesmerising effect. The music of this disc is a
case in point and it is not merely evident in the profound beauty of
‘Woodblock’ after which the entire album is named, because of the
bold performance of each on the songs in this repertoire. Beauty that
is no accident.
That such understanding of a complex instrument and such maturity of
musicianship is emblematic this early on in the career of Gina Schwarz
is both surprising and welcome. It is no surprise, however, to hear how
well integrated this work sounds. The bassist’s approach is well-formed
and advanced, yet her style is fluid and deceptive, her growling,
euphonious tone artfully leavening her logical but nonetheless oblique
and unpredictable melodic thinking. The added support of four highly
empathetic musicians – saxophonist and bass clarinettist Fabian
Rucker, in particular gets right inside the music, and pianist Benjamin
Schatz, drummer Jim Black and guitarist Heimo Trixner make yeoman
contributions as they enunciate the music’s message’s complex
meditations on the interaction between its visceral humanity and virtual
reality. All in all this is a beautiful recording with made warmth and
detail, and extraordinary musicianship.
Track List: Dr. Jekyll & Mrs. Hyde; Loophouse; Woodclock; Morpheus;
From Shenandoah; Rats & Bats; Ping Pong; Broadcasters At Work.
Personnel: Fabian Rucker: saxophone, bass clarinet; Benjamin Schatz:
piano, keyboards, Heimo Trixner: guitar; Gina Schwarz: bass; Jim
Black: drums; Marco Blascetta: vocal (3).
Label: Cracked An Egg
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Gina Schwarz 
