Ellery Eskelin Kulak 29 & 30 (hatOLOGY 521)
Ellery Eskelin's latest project on hatOLOGY is the kind of recording that keeps the
new music scene fresh and moving forward. A frenetic mix of different time signatures,
melodies, song structures, and instruments, Kulak 29 & 30 offers forth a half dozen
diverse tracks based on Eskelin-penned music and the interaction of three talented
musicians. While Eskelin's writing is the foundation of the group's music, their
sound relies on Andrea Parkins' accordion and sampler and Jim Black's boisterous
banging all meshing with Eskelin's tenor in this unorthodox sounding trio. Creating sounds from
traditional accordion to organ to white noise background samples, the true nature
of Parkins' instrumentation is unclear. Sometimes, like on the opener "Departure
Lounge," she plays unison accordion lines with Eskelin, while other times, like on the third
track "Rhyme or Reason," you'd swear she was playing a Hammond Organ on the syncopated
vamp which powers that tune throughout. Still other times, there's no sign of either sound and you know she's playing something somewhere in the mix. Instead of sampling
riffs or voices, Parkins samples sounds, an idea that adds a great dimension to this
group. Black's playing is integral, allowing rock, groove, and funk elements to enter into the group improvisation. His drumming encompasses solos that exhibit a whirlwind
of cymbals and skins to beats that reel the listener in with their accessible simplicity
and style. Each song is an exploration of the capacity and potential of these three musicians, as well as Eskelin's compositional methodology. "Fifty Nine" is almost
ambient with its accordion noise, building into a circus-like march, supported by
sustained chords and led by Eskelin's sax. "Organum" is a ten-minute exploration
of offbeat freedom, while "Visionary of the Week" slowly builds into a series of frantic
sax solos which then give way to an almost spacy vibe. This is some enjoyably organized
madness which needs to be heard to be believed.
Scott Menhinick
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eskelin@earthlink.net