Review of “Mosaic” by Duende (Jeffrey Agrell, horn, Gil
Selinger, cello, and Evan Mazunik, piano):
”Modern arrangements of early music are nothing new, but
this fresh new collection of improvisatory
interpretations puts a different face on the practice.
Especially unusual is such an approach within the
standard classical performance arena; the work of Duende
reminded me more of some of the similar
efforts on the ECM jazz label. There was also a recent
classical guitar CD of similar import.
Some of these composers - such as Hildegarde von Bingen -
go back as far as the 12th century.
Instead of researching the musicological details of the music
and its accurate performance according to
the norms of the period, Duende takes the melodies and
wails on them much as a jazz pianist would
do with a tune from the Great American Songbook
Read more
Review of “Mosaic” by Duende (Jeffrey Agrell, horn, Gil
Selinger, cello, and Evan Mazunik, piano):
”Modern arrangements of early music are nothing new, but
this fresh new collection of improvisatory
interpretations puts a different face on the practice.
Especially unusual is such an approach within the
standard classical performance arena; the work of Duende
reminded me more of some of the similar
efforts on the ECM jazz label. There was also a recent
classical guitar CD of similar import.
Some of these composers - such as Hildegarde von Bingen -
go back as far as the 12th century.
Instead of researching the musicological details of the music
and its accurate performance according to
the norms of the period, Duende takes the melodies and
wails on them much as a jazz pianist would
do with a tune from the Great American Songbook. The three
skilled musicians of Duende are
discovering the future thru the past. They are bringing back
the element of improvisation which was a
central part of classical performance up until the Romantic
era. Their idea is that if they can create
music on the spot, so to speak, why not create completely
fresh interpretations of existing old music?
The idea behind using Mosaic for the CD title is perfect. I’m a
fan of mosaics, and they mostly have
some rough edges but come together in a glorious work of
art. The same could be said of these 13
short improvisations. Some are of dance music, such as a
saltarello, and really swing in some spots.
The lengthiest is a very imaginative 8 1/2 minute improvisation
on the popular medieval theme The
Armed Man (which Karl Jenkins used for his famous recent
Mass). The two Sephardic tunes add a
sparkle and oriental twist to the program and are among those
making use of some additional
percussion sounds. The transparent-quality sound was
recorded at the University of Iowa School of
Music, my old alma mater. “ Audiophile Audition (John
Sunier)
“Approaching improvised music from a decidedly classical
vantage point, Jeffrey Agrell (horn) and
Evan Mazunik (piano) seamlessly weave together semi-
notated passages and stretches of improvisation
into pieces that fuse the musicians' grasp on chord scales
and species counterpoint. The album's title
track, Repercussions, displays the elision between genres,
keeping things on the buoyant side and
displaying an almost Copland-like flair, occasionally digressing
into more experimental territory. Put
this one smack in the middle of the “adult contemporary”
wallpaper that fills cubicals in office
buildings
everywhere and the outer limits of Tzadik's catalog.”
NewMusicBox, online web magazine of the
American Music Center
[“Repercussions”] is by another off-center duo, this one
consisting of French horn and piano. In the
liner notes Jeffrey Agrell states that it was his intention to
improvise on his horn in a way that was free
of Jazz or classical conventions. The music that emerges is
still more classical than anything but with a
tendency toward exploration and freedom. Agrell gets a pure,
yearning sound on “Repercussions” and
Evan Mazunik’s piano accompaniment is thesort of dread-
filled rumbling that brings Ran Blake to mind.
“Diminished Intelligence” has a sense ofSwing and is
reminiscent of the old Third Stream classical-jazz
style with Agrell showing the nimbleness of clarinetist Jimmy
Giuffre. “Only in Winter” and “Oddio” are
comtemplative ballads with the latter ending in a brisk piano-
horn chase. “Dangerous Divertimento” is
a long suite that nods to Stravinsky and encompasses
introspection, drama, harsh climaxes, and a
touch of Blues. This CD is not casual listening. It’s a
challenging work that shows one way the Third
Stream movement might have gone if it had ever caught on.”
Cadence Magazine
“…I found it impossible to tell when they moved back and
forth between the written and
extemporaneous. …all the playing here is excellent and
marvelously expressive. The way the
performers complement each other is extraordinary.” The
Horn Call
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