Featured Artist: Natto Quartet

CD Title: Thousand Oaks

Year: 2005

Record Label: 482 Music

Style: Free Jazz / Avante Garde

Review:

This quartet’s unlikely instrumentation and abstruse conceptions work rather nicely within a quasi, organic-electronic method of deployment, substantiated by the members’ four-way dialogues.  It’s a low blood pressure type outing where Tim Perkis’ subtle electronics provide a textured layer to Shoko Hikage’s nimble and sometimes, buzzing koto performances among other contrasting elements. 

 The ensemble’s quietly dramatic flair underscores the overall activity level.  At times, stark and minimalist in scope, the musicians often pursue otherworldly sounds as they explore various nooks and crannies.  On the piece titled “Kuri-ae,” Philip Gelb’s shakuhachi work coupled with weaving EFX and pianist Chris Brown’s supple phrasings; conjure up notions of an abstract tribal ritual.  Here and throughout various passages, the artists will raise the pitch.  Ultimately, they work together to elicit a low-key, spiritual regeneration that envelops the sum of the parts.  (Recommended…)

Record Label Website: http://www.482music.com

Reviewed by: Glenn Astarita

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