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Misha Mengelberg Quartet
Four in One
(SGL 1535-5)

Hybrid SACD only


Misha Mengelberg, piano
Dave Douglas, trumpet
Brad Jones, bass
Han Bennink, drums

When Dutch pianist, composer and humorist Misha Mengelberg, one of the heroes of the "new Dutch swing," got together with Dave Douglas for a couple of duo gigs, they enjoyed it so much they decided to expand things to a quartet with New York bassist Brad Jones (who performs regularly with Dave and is on Misha's Avant CD Who's Bridge) and Misha's longtime colleague Han Bennink on drums. (Dave has also performed with Han as a duo, documented on Serpentine, SGL 1510-2). Working with a book of Mengelberg originals and Monk tunes, they played a week at NY's Iridium and then went into Avatar with engineer Joe Ferla (Dave producing) to record live to Direct Stream Digital, the Sony/Philips high definition system. The resulting hybrid Super Audio CD is thrillingly convincing when played back as a 2-channel SACD and still vibrant sounding as a CD, preserving the wit and drive and cohesiveness of four improvisers at the top of their collective game. Misha's tunes run the gamut from boppish scorchers to ballads, raucous, sardonic ditties to blues to a South African kwela, and in this context the Monk tunes underline Misha's particular affinity for his music. (Note: Songlines is simultaneously releasing Wayne Horvitz's new record Sweeter Than the Day as a multi-channel hybrid SACD.)

The godfather of Dutch improvised music, Misha Mengelberg was involved in the absurd-art movement Fluxus in the 60s, debuted on record in '64 on Dolphy's Last Date, and founded the Instant Composer's Pool with Han Bennink and Willem Breuker in 1967. During the 70s he began leading the ICP Orchestra (which continues to be a forum for his interests in the classic jazz repertore, composition, improvisation, conducted improvisation, and music theater), and was artistic director of the electronic music workshop STEIM. He has composed various pieces for piano, wind ensemble, electro-acoustic ensemble, orchestra, and voice, and teaches counterpoint at the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam. His records are on Soul Note, Avant, DIW, hatOLOGY, ICP, and other labels.

Further information: www.ejn.it/mus/mengelberg.htm, www.shef.ac.uk/misc/rec/ps/efi/musician/mmengel.html, www.davedouglas.com

Media quotes:
"...when the quartet turned the lock on lyricism within its stories, the results were as beautiful as the joy in the improv. Both sets ended with Mengelberg's 'Poor Wheel,' the shortness of which made it a convenient capstone to [Iridium's] tightly formatted hour-long turns. But the tune's lovely melodic allusions to the John Coltrane ballad 'After the Rain' also left a sweet aftertaste to a round of challenging interplay."
- Paul Robichau, Sonicnet.com

"Improvisation was almost extinct in western art music before jazz brought it back. Misha Mengelberg's work reminds us that the improvisational impulse jazz unleashed takes many forms, some far from obvious. His stuff offers yet more evidence that African-American music changed nearly everyone's sound in the 20th century. Think of it. Even Dutch composers play the blues."
- Kevin Whitehead, Fresh Air (NPR)

"Mengelberg's music inhabits a room full of doors, each one opening into a different warped musical space. Things really become interesting when he opens several at a time... There's a freedom in this music that apparently aspires to no grand scheme or design other than to be happily, merrily free!"
- Matt Krieg, Jazz Views (Australia)

  2. * Hypochristmutreefuzz
  3. * Reef
  4. * Kneebus
  5. * Die Berge Schuetzen die Heimat
  6. * Four in One
  7. * Monk's Mood
  8. * Criss Cross
  9. * Blues After Piet
  10. * We're Going Out for Italian
  11. * Poor Wheel