release date: 14.01.2025 on Graydisc Records
This is a unique recording involving the four types of contraguitars, played by internationally recognised virtuoso Kevin Kastning, and two wind players. A multitasked, American veteran of the Sax Carl Clements, playing on Tenor, Alto, and Soprano saxophones and a young Iranian clarinettist Soheil Peyghambari, playing on Bass Clarinet & Bb clarinet on this six-tune marvellous session.
About the recording:
This is their first trio album, with more in the works. This grouping of instruments provides a unique palette for these new compositions for various Contraguitars and wind instruments. This trio has an immediate and intricate artistic connection which can be heard in these six new compositions. Kastning and Clements have been collaborating for over 20 years and they know each other boundaries very well. I can easily say that they are breathing with the same air and can sense each other as if they are a singular human being. This is a long-going and unique duo, which may not have a lot of display in the public domain, but true aficionados of improvised music are well-recognised players.
Soheil Peyghambari may not have such a long internship, but he has been around long enough to put his stamp on multiple projects. He is a well-recognised collaborator of musicians like Tony Levin and Markus Reuter, both the bassist and guitarist, well-established virtuosos of their instruments, famous for their multiple experimentations with stick guitars, building innovative instruments and pushing the sound boundaries beyond the limits. Active in electrophonic loop music, contemporary classical music, progressive and art rock, industrial music, world jazz, jazz fusion, pop songs and pure improvisation scene.
About the artists:
Kevin Kastning attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has studied privately with guitar legend Pat Metheny. Kevin has composed over 200 works for various solo and chamber group instrumentation. Kevin has recorded albums with Alex de Grassi, Michael Manring, Mark Wingfield, Carl Clements, Sandor Szabo, and others.
Kevin is the inventor of the 36- string Double Contraguitar (see photo at above), the 17-string Extended Hybrid Classical (both featured on this album), the 30-string Contra-Alto guitar, the 28- and 24-string Double Contraguitars, the 15-string Extended Classical guitar, the 16- and 17-string Contraguitars, and others. Kevin’s discography extends to over 50 albums. Since 2019, Kevin has had 16 albums in first-round voting for the Grammy® Awards. He resides in Maine USA.
Carl Clements
– Internationally acclaimed Massachusetts-based jazz saxophonist, flautist, and jazz composer. Carl performs here on Tenor and Soprano saxophones.
Of Carl, AcousticMusic.com said, “catch the remarkable tone Clements invokes…Clements is… conversationally inclined, explorative, emotionally invested… Clements.. wastes no time mesmerizing the listener as the guitar paints backdrops for his senses and visions.”
On Partitas, Book 1, Carl adds an Alto saxophone to his palette. Carl has been featured on albums both as a leader and sideman, and currently resides in Massachusetts.
Soheil Peyghambari –
Studied clarinet and Music Composition at Tehran Conservatory of Music. “Assumption,” his first album, has been widely represented in “Les contes de jour et de la nuit” émission in Radio France and also nominated for the best fusion album of the year in the Fadjr International Music Festival. Awarded with “Passport Talent” carte de séjour from the French government in 2019, he lives and works in Iran and France.
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ALBUM: Triple Helix
RELEASE DATE: 14 January 2025
LABEL: Greydisc CATALOG #: GDR3592
GENRE: Jazz, Avant-garde, New Age
ARTISTS: Kevin Kastning // Carl Clements // Soheil Peyghambari
INSTRUMENTATION:
Kevin Kastning: 36-string Double Contraguitar, 28-string Double Contraguitar, 18-string Contraguitar, 17-string Subcontraguitar.
Carl Clements: Tenor, Alto, and Soprano saxophones.
Soheil Peyghambari: Bass Clarinet, Bb clarinet
TRACK LISTING
1. First Chirality
2. Molecular Folded
3. Orthogonal Matrix
4. Enter Polytope
5. Second Chirality
6. Scalene Torsion
All compositions by Kevin Kastning, Carl Clements, and Soheil Peyghambari