Emphatic Now
Neuma, 2024
8/10
Douglas R. Ewart, Christian Asplund and Steven Ricks come together for these 8 unpredictable tracks that were captured at Madsen Recital Hall, in Provo, Utah in October of 2022.
“Call To Attention” gets the listen off to a percussively strong start, where Asplund’s manipulated strings and Ewart’s well timed woodwinds make for a distinct, off kilter warmth, and “Water Song” follows with a bit of rumbling before Ricks’ animated trombone enters the cinematic landscape.
At the halfway point, “The Struggle To Receive The Breath” allows the distinct didgeridoo to radiate in firm ways, while “Did You See That?” recruits Ewart’s spoken word amid the rich brass, electronics and keys.
Close to the end, “Upperstanding Everpresence” carries an atypical, sonic energy that plucks and shakes with mystery, and “The Determination To Be Free” might the most exploratory selection, as eastern ideas and jazz stabs mesh with intrigue.
A body of work that is focused on timbre, abstractness and improvisation, the diverse instruments, including self-built bamboo wind instruments, makes every moment here an enjoyable surprise
Travels well with: Kamala Sankaram- Crescent; Philip Blackburn- ORDO