The Sound Projector (UK) – Nausika
The Urge Trio “Live in Toledo“ (veto-rec/exchange 010)
The Urge Trio comprise an idiosyncratic and fascinating line up of two Tenor Saxophones doubling Bass Clarinets (Christoph Erb and Keefe Jackson), and cello (Tomeka Reid). The two tracks that make up Live from Toledo present what appear to be an entirely improvised set, which for the most part is fast-paced, skitterish, and wildly virtuousic. The Urge Trio are clearly a well honed group, and their impressive ability as players shines through from the off, switching in an instant between the flatulent, caustic depths of this bass-heavy band to cartoonish soprano harmonics, squeals and peals.
Although entirely instrumental, however, there’s an uncannily vocal quality to this performance – it speaks to you directly. The players appear very much in conversation (or argument) throughout. Listening to this album feels like being privy to the formation of some kind of Neanderthal language, at high speed. Whatever it is they’re saying, I want to hear more.
credits
released September 3, 2014
Christoph Erb, tenor saxophone and bass clarinet
Tomeka Reid, cello
Keefe Jackson, tenor saxophone and bass clarinet
All tracks by Christoph Erb, Tomeka Reid, Keefe Jackson
Recorded on October 5th, 2013 at the Robinwood Concert House Toledo Ohio by Gabriel Beam
Three-and-a-half hours of electroacoustic improvisations that frequently conjure worlds as wonderful, alien, graceless, and confounding as insect mating. Bandcamp Album of the Day Sep 7, 2022