Joris Roelofs - Aliens Deliberating '2014

Tracks list

Bass clarinetist Joris Roelofs makes magic, conjuring up suspenseful contrasting
worlds of sound - and in the process gives voice to captivatingly beautiful
musical conversations. Roelofs trio plays music characterized by a powerful
intimacy and a preternatural instrumental communication.

No, it’s not something out of this world that lets loose with strange
shimmering sounds one moment and then issues forth with tones that reverberate
with a homey warmth the next. In jazz, the bass clarinet has long given the
impression of an extraterrestrial sound machine—even though it had
surfaced as early as 1926 in a Jelly Roll Morton recording.

For those who see the bass clarinet for the first time, it looks a bit like a
strangely shaped, dark- colored saxophone made out of wood. Since the
1960’s, bolstered by legendary saxophonist Eric Dolphy’s preemi-
nent bass clarinet playing, along with such famous succes- sors as David Murray,
Louis Sclavis, and Michael Riessler, the instrument has become a continually
stronger voice in jazz. In the last few years, 30 year old Dutch jazz musician
Joris Roelofs has surfaced as one of those who plays the instrument with the
required passion and mastery.

And here he lays down a dozen gripping pieces on his debut for Pirouet
Records—an album with the tongue-in-cheek title: Aliens Deliberating. If
you think that this music is the weighty conversation of extraterrestrials,
(strictly speak- ing, only the title piece suggests the possibility), then these
aliens must be rather fascinating contemporaries: the rep- artee between Joris
Roelofs’ bass clarinet, Matt Penman’s bass, and Ted Poor’s
drums is nothing short of fantastic.

Joris Roelofs, bass clarinet
Matt Penman, bass
Ted Poor, drums

Tracklist:
01. Joris Roelofs - Dianas Castle (7:21)
02. Joris Roelofs - Bad Dream (0:46)
03. Joris Roelofs - Karys Trance (5:46)
04. Joris Roelofs - Aliens Deliberating (1:05)
05. Joris Roelofs - Ataraxia (6:38)
06. Joris Roelofs - Vlotte Babbel (0:33)
07. Joris Roelofs - Eleventhly (5:49)
08. Joris Roelofs - Big Drunken Bumblebee (1:00)
09. Joris Roelofs - Sophisticated Lady (4:57)
10. Joris Roelofs - Before the Commonwealth (4:42)
11. Joris Roelofs - Love Declaration (0:26)
12. Joris Roelofs - High Dark Sea (5:45)

Related artists