Brad Henkel and Dustin Carlson (Secret People) have a long history of musical collaborations, but recently combined their trumpet and guitar, respectively, with the drums of Samuel Hall and their improvised sessions had brought forth a new set of recordings.
Recoil (Aut Records) is a product of their spontaneous performances, augmented by electronics from Hall and Henkel’s trumpet often altered by effects. This electro-acoustic experimental music is similar to the vanguard ‘Echtzeitmusik’ jazz thriving today in Berlin. It’s not just about sounding different, which Recoil is certainly guilty of, but the ingenuity Henkel, Carlson and Hall applied in making this music sound so novel and apart from other improvised music.
“Screen Eyes” is a four-chord riff but the trio does a lot with it. Reflecting three tempos combining for one unified piece, Carlson plays the sequence arpeggiated as Henkel sweetly meditates over it and Hall rumbles through his kit.
Things begin to get edgy with “Serrate”, thanks to what resembles a low & squonky baritone sax but is actually Henkel playing his trumpet with a bassoon reed. Hall sets off an electronic rhythm loop, freeing him up to apply decorations around that horn. Henkel goes into ‘Jack Johnson’ Miles mode over much of “Star Sixty-Nine” with Carlson putting out a bass-like figure from guitar against a dispersed sonic backdrop that calls to mind Chicago Underground Duo.
Much of the alien percussive effects hears at the beginning of “Coil” are coming from Hendel’s trumpet, blowing false notes that coordinates nicely with the on freeform activity Hall’s drum kit, bringing a ferocious rock-jazz mindset to something much further out. For the last three minutes, Henkel transforms his horn through effects emitting futuristic wails that would make Jon Hassell proud.
“Velvet Potpourri” emerges from a suspended state into a simple but pretty melody, highlighted by Henkel’s vulnerable trumpet.
Brad Henkel, Dustin Carlson and Samuel Hall set out and succeeded in making a freeform record that’s not just uncommon, but uncommonly good.
Recoil is now out, from Aut Records. Pick up a digital copy from their Bandcamp store.
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