By Sammy Stein
Bass clarinettist Ziv Taubenfeld has recorded Song of the Weeds alongside musicians he has admired for a long time, Luis Vicente on trumpet, Michael Formanek on double bass, and Jeff Williams on drums. It is Taubenfeld’s second release on the label.
The album is dedicated to Abdullah Ibrahim, Robert Wyatt, and Ab Baars. Taubenfeld says, “The music on the album is a result of the group's work over the past couple of years, exploring and shaping music. It's a really deep experience making sound with these gentlemen.”
The opening track ‘The Village’ uses a repeated 6-note melody and the listener is in danger of being lulled into a sense of security and predictability – but this is false and thank goodness for that. The trumpet blasts and blares its way across the bass clarinet in colourful whirls of madcap music – gloriously undoing the calm set up by the theme.
‘Mumin The Minimalist’ is dedicated to Robert Wyatt and, with a strong sense of form, development, and a nod to rock format, coupled with the ensemble’s inputs – the highlight of which is a solid double bass solo from Formanek, with bass clarinet joining in an evolving duet, which becomes a trio and finally the full quartet, creating now a swinging, meandering journey of soundscape that leads the listener ever deeper into the interwoven connections within this music.
‘A Wheel, The Wheel’ circles around variations of a short theme, which the bass clarinet then takes and evolves into a gloriously warm solo, across the percussive elements. The middle section is a demonstration of ensemble work, underpinning the solo work from Taubenfeld, which continually develops. The bass clarinet drops out to leave Williams with a drum solo before the warmth of the ensemble, and the theme is re-asserted, but just when you feel a sense of calm – again a bit of mayhem erupts.
‘Under the Ab Tree’ is dedicated to Ab Baars, the multi-genre Dutch musician, and the ensemble makes full use of the dedication to embrace different styles, senses, and the eclecticism of the Dutch scene and Ab in particular.
‘Question~1 (Where Does It All Go)’ is quiet to start with, with a sense of searching as the ensemble repeats a motif that is answered by growling, intense double bass, and deep-throated bass clarinet, adding warmth and textural context. The middle section is beautifully balanced with croaks and squelches, followed by melodic interludes, before the trumpet enters and a change of intensity develops.
‘Falling Star’ is the closing track, and this serves to bring together different patterns, rhythmic changes, and themes, with a rich, walking rhythm and a Latin feel to the arrangement.
The album is released in a DIY format: the front covers screen printed on kraft paper, and the gluing and extra colour work was added at Taubenfeld’s home. Production is limited to 1-200 CDs.
This album is beautifully put together and has a balance of tone and form that is ultimately intrinsically pleasing. It feels complete, and the musicians have a connection through the music, which ultimately comes to the listener. A wonderful album.
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