Uncivilized Ruminations

FRANK CARLBERG: Uncivilized Ruminations
Red Piano, 2011

MODERN JAZZ/POETRY – Pianist Carlberg is a master at spinning the written word into a musical setting and has released several albums based on contemporary poetry. This time he focuses mainly on the short, satiric works of Finnish poets Kai Niemenen and Anselm Hollo. Carlberg leads a solid quintet, and Christine Correa’s elastic vocals are a perfect match for both the propulsive music and the oddball texts. FCC clean.

Frank Carlberg : piano
Christine Correa : vocals
John O'Gallagher, Chris Cheek : saxophones
John Hebert : bass
Michael Sarin: drums

All good. Fo’s Picks: 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9

1. 9:01 – disorienting intro with random phrases, then a speedy boppish sound
2. 9:17 – a Kurt Weill style back-alley crawl; piano strolls, soprano sax twists
3. 6:36 – darting, repetitive theme; squirrelly piano & jabbing rhythmic interplay
4. 7:25 – roaming piano against slow voice & sax; conversational sax solo
5. 4:07 – twisty percolation: horns get into tense dialogue, vocal weaves thru
6. 6:51 – relaxed tempo, bittersweet nightclub sound: lovely sax & bass solos
7. 5:11 – sinister pulse, vocals tightly integrated with band, hopping sax
8. 7:58 – solo bass intro, then slow, a bit dark and with a sneering undertone
9. 7:57 – goofy poem & drum showcase, spins sluggishly as saxes heat up

[ Fo ] 07/31/11