When I saw this album the 1st thing I thought was: Gosh – long time since I seen a solo recording from Dave, and I went to the shelf to check it. It turned into 20 years exactly as I found! Lots of Memories to celebrate as it was my Dave’s 1st recording I bought (Air Sculpture). My first ever Traumton CD , yes guys 😉 and also the title which took me straight on shortly after into the wonder world of Keiko Abe. The Temple of endless imagination in which I steel keep praying today.
Like the first one, same this latest immediately found its place in my heart forever. Musicians like Dave who live busy lives contributing on hundreds of the Greatest musician names’ around recordings (Ch.Baker ,W.Shorter, J.Scofield to just name the few) hardly have time to slow down ,relax and listen to the sounds inside themselves. And this 20 year gap is the best proof of that.
Listening to only those two albums makes one aware immediately how great contribution it is.
Possibly the closest to that are Dave’s trio projects with French Accordionist Jean Louis Matinier and Argentine bandoneon Master Dino Saluzzi recorded for an Intuition label. Those, together with both solo Traumton recordings are absolutely a Holy Bible for those who follow The Open Space Sound Sanctuary.
Intimacy of this recording sets the listener back immediately. It is a message that is not possible to ignore. You can’t just leave it playing back in the background. You have to listen to it, you have to let it explore your mind. All you have there to react every time Dave’s mallets hit his instruments is straight on alerted. Doesn’t matter if that is a tune you know, or you do not.
Any way it doesn’t sound like you ever remembered it, even with such well recognisable titles like Monk’s Round Midnight or Legrand’s The Windmills of Your Mind.
An improvisation is an open process, vibrant and immediate. It affects you with an instant effect. There is no limitation involved in it. It all spans between the musician’s imagination and technical capabilities. Listeners sensitivity and ability to catch the wave. Dave is the Jack of All. He builds mysterious temples of sound with an individual approach for every single piece of music here. Balance between the structures of the sounds is made on aware choices which one to hit to get just that exact note with its texture, shape and re-verb which makes her so unique.
Those with an open mind will find there something else every time they get back to this music. I am lucky to have it since 2 months now and I am listening to it daily still being delighted as like I just heard it for the first time.Listen to this when it rains and when the Sun is on. Listen after sex and even during, too;) You will see what I mean.
On the top of this recording two things as well are worth special attention.
First is the person who recorded it: Wolfgang Loos, the same sound engineer who created an outstanding Air Sculpture sound. Second is the fact that he used for this recording his Telefunken vacuum tube based microphones. Those who know the sound of EF 86 pentode do not need to be told twice. Those who do not, let me tell you: It is only live music experience that can be better than the image of these mikes.
Listen to it and you will hear the quality you never experienced before. Both artistic and technical. I do not believe that it can be any better.