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A gracious treat to the ears, full of great tones and distinctive acoustic perspectives […]
Happily, those experimental tendencies are offset by strong compositions and melodies, so they never descend into the tuneless racket some associate with improvised music.
Ugly Beauties is the self-titled debut CD of Toronto-based master improvisers pianist Marilyn Lerner, cellist Matt Brubeck and drummer Nick Fraser. Recorded in the summer of 2008 at the Glenn Gould Studios at CBC Toronto, the 15 tracks feature both partially written and totally improvised music with composition contributions from each member of the trio.
Ugly Beauties explores the terrain between jazz, contemporary classical music and improvisation. Piano, cello and drums interweave to create a boundless palette of texture and mood, and the breadth of sonic experimentation at times renders the three instruments indistinguishable from each other.
Lerner, Brubeck and Fraser possess an uncanny synergy and improvisational virtuosity, with allows the music to remain free as it circulates effortlessly around groove, abstract lyricism and harmonic exploration. This debut effort is a compelling listen and you should buy this CD now (if not for the music, than for the photo on the cover)! (M.L.)
Also available in digital format (MP3, etc.) at your favourite online store.