Keir Neruinger & Rafał Mazur - invitation to Literki, tonight at 8PM

I'd like to pass Rafal Mazur's invitation to the concerts with Keir Neuringer. I've written about the duo on the occasion of a concert at Bomba some time ago. The duo's cd "Unison Lines" comes equally highly recommended.

The concert at Literki is and additional event to the Krakow Autumn Jazz program as well as part of the new and very much-welcomed series dedicated to improvised music Improwizje that will take place at the club.

As such it starts also an international tour by the duo.  Here are the next dates, be sure to see the concert if you're nearby:

Unison Lines European Tour 2012

15.11. - Kraków, klub Literki http://www.barliterki.pl/
19.11 – Warszawa, „Pardon, to tu” http://www.pardontotu.pl/
20.11 – Poznań, Dragon http://www.dragon.krzyk.pl/
21.11 – Gdańsk, Teatr w Oknie www.teatrszekspirowski.pl/
22.11 – Berlin, Sowieso http://www.sowieso-neukoelln.de/#home
23.11 – Leipzig, Galerie KUB http://galeriekub.de/
25.11 – Paris, La galerie G http://lartaugarage.over-blog.com/
27.11 – Brussels, Cafe Central www.lecafecentral.com/
28.11 – Amsterdam, OT 301 www.ot301.nl
29.11 – Geneve, Insubordinations series, le Cabinet http://www.insubordinations.net/agenda.html
01.12 – Wien, Porgy&Bess www.porgy.at

The tour is possible thanks to a funding received by the

RED Trio & Keir Neuringer at Alchemia (04.05)

Because of other obbligations I couldn't arrive at Alchemia around 8 pm to see the whole concert, but as soon as I was free I run to the place hoping to catch at least the final moments of the evening. I consulted the timetable afterwards and it turned out I was just a couple minutes late for the 2nd set, and was immediately surprised - as I could hear clearly (however unnaturally high screaming it was) sound of a saxophone. And surprise was even greater when I saw it was Keir Neuringer, whom I praised recently for his playing with Rafal Mazur (here).

I haven't took any notes so here's just some quick summary before I forget what I wanted to write:

The 2nd set consisted of two extended improvisation, and it was a great display of powef of communication - the interplay between the trio players is clear, their synergy almost visible, but to add one completely unknown element to this mixture and mantain the ability of such drammatic narration is absolutely stunning. The quartet, with a very much ensemble and democratic playing, would move through dark and eerie landscapes, at ease creating new build-ups and sudden collapses. Within a limited frame of notes that would resonance forever they were able to create feeling of space that is both open and frightening. There were some wild and raw energy exchanges, other moments would remind of Cage's piano interludes fragile, beauty (repetitive phrases on prepared piano), most of the time they'd stay somewhere in the no man's land, those mysterious moments in which you know that the storm is coming, when the tension underlying the playing is much more powerfull device of expression than the storm itself. As if they were following Alfred Hitchcock's recipes for suspense.

The great news is that the 2nd set was recorded. Can't wait to hear it again. Dark, gripping, powerful stuff.

RED trio
Rodrigo Pinheiro - piano
Hernani Faustino - double bass
Gabriel Ferrandini - drums
guest:
Keir Neuringer - alto saxophone (2nd set only, which incidentally was the only one I could have see)

Alchemia; Krakow. 04.05.2011

Keir Neuringer & Rafal Mazur - Jazz at Bomba vol. 3 (28.04)

Jazz at Klub Bomba series continues. 

I've expressed my appreciation of Rafal Mazur's playing a couple of times lately (as he has played in Bomba on the occasion of both previous concerts) so let me just say that he was his usual great - deep sound, blurried lines, focused and attentively listening, never forcing himself on the front, comfortable at providing background that would put the spotlight on his partner, though not afraid to introduce new , surprising suggestions and slighly changing the direction of the music.

The collaboration with Keir Neuringer, once a student in Krakow, started in 1999 and lasted and developed through years, resulting last year in their first cd ("Unison Lines" on Not Two). I thoroughly enjoed the music on the cd so I was looking forward to this evening which was to be the first time I'd see Keir on stage.