Gauci/Knuffke/Filiano - Chasing Tales

[CraigP]

Relative Pitch recently released Chasing Tales from Stephen Gauci, Kirk Knuffke, and Ken Filiano around the same time that the label also released Matthew Shipp’s Root of Things. Shipp’s album has gotten most of the attention, but Chasing Tales is a great little record. Here’s an excerpt from my review:

“Six of the tracks are completely improvised, while Gauci contributes three compositions, and Knuffke and Filiano one each. The composed tracks have interesting arrangements and are crisply executed, with enough air in them to encourage dialog between the players. It’s a tribute to the group that the quality is consistent across all the tracks, whether composed or improvised.

Gauchi has sometimes come across as tentative to these ears, perhaps thinking a little too much, but he sounds confident and in control here, more fluid than I’ve ever heard him. Knuffke is so consistent; I sang his praises on Max Johnson’s The Invisible Trio, and he delivers here as well…

A few years ago I was on the fence about Ken Filiano, but he seems to get better and better…he's the glue for this record, whether walking under the other two players with a full, rich tone, adding his commentary, or playing unison phrases.

Great spirit, great interaction, mutual respect.”

You can read the full review of Chasing Tales on #improvisedblog.

[Leeway]

Gauci's "Nididhyasana" with Nate Wooley (tp) and Mike Bisio and Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten, both on bass. is a monster album (Clean Feed). About as intense an experience as you can have with a silver disc. Should be better known but that title has to be a stumbling block.

[jlhoots]

I like Chasing Tales too.

[CraigP]

Gauci's "Nididhyasana" with Nate Wooley (tp) and Mike Bisio and Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten, both on bass. is a monster album (Clean Feed). About as intense an experience as you can have with a silver disc. Should be better known but that title has to be a stumbling block.

That sounds intriguing; I've never heard it. I see it's on Spotify under Basso Continuo.

[mjazzg]

It's a very good album indeed - Basso Continuo that is

Edited August 18, 2014 by mjazzg

[Leeway]

Gauci's "Nididhyasana" with Nate Wooley (tp) and Mike Bisio and Ingebrigt Haaker Flaten, both on bass. is a monster album (Clean Feed). About as intense an experience as you can have with a silver disc. Should be better known but that title has to be a stumbling block.

That sounds intriguing; I've never heard it. I see it's on Spotify under Basso Continuo.

Yes, that's right; in fact, that's what I usually call the album, since Nididhyasana does not trip off my tongue. I notice that the new album runs somewhat along the same lines: sax, trumpet and bass (but only one). I'll want to check that out.