“Intelsat” was recently released by “Alister Spencer Records”. Album was recorded by Alister Spencer (piano) and Satoko Fuji (prepared piano, electric piano, effects). Both pianists are famous at experimental music and avant-garde jazz scene. They both are open to new ideas, expressions and original musical decisions. Improvisers can organically and subtly fuse together dozens of different playing styles, music genres and expressions. Their music mostly is based on totally synthesis of unusual and strange intonations, scales, music of various countries and continents and other similar things. Modern innovations and traditions are mixed together in their music. Improvisations become a good and suitable pplace for fascinating musical decisions, exotic combinations, sudden turns, surprising changes and search of gorgeous and extraordinary timbres. The newest tendencies of avant-garde jazz are connected with Scandinavian, European and American avant-garde jazz. Japan improvisational music, Asian and Europe countries music and its main elements. Despite of huge stylistic variety, the basic of the compositions usually rests free improvisation, who is the key of most part of the compositions.
“Intelsat” is filled with abstract and engaging sound. Free, colorful and expressive musical pattern is based on creative and natural fusion of dozens musical language’s elements. Two pianists are the masters of their art – they can masterfully, organically and with passion combine together many elements, who are the opposites to each other. Both of them are making an effort to create rich, multi-layed and polyphonic musical pattern. All structure of the compositions really is engaging and remarkable – open and abstract form, the soft intonations of European and Asian ethnical music, its scales, chords, exotic sounds and timbres. All that makes a huge effort to colorful and modern musical language. The musical pattern and the layers are independent and gorgeous – each of them is constructed from millions of tiny small pieces, stylistic inclusions, variations, repetitive rhythmic and melodic elements and special effects. That forms rich, gorgeous and bright musical language, inventive instrumentation and passionate sound. Musicians are making colorful and dynamic stylistic changes, they mix together many different jazz styles and other music genres. The music is in change all the time. From abstract, silent, subtle, soft and gentle free improvisation it goes straightly to moving, sharp and touching solos or back to the smooth, a little bit bluesy and sweet, romantic melodies. The stylistic variety is surprising and huge – it seems like, that musicians are trying to show their talent and the best abilities of fresh, interesting and evocative improvising. The styles and moods are changed suddenly, without any pause or interruption. Gentle, attractive and tight gets to solemn, abstract and gorgeous, dramatic, angry and thrilling or relaxing and peaceful once again. The scale of styles, moods and impressions is so big, that it’s impossible to predict, where is it going to turn next minute. Natural and impressive synthesis and changes of moods doesn’t just show the engaging and original improvising, it also shows precise and marvelous playing technique of both musicians. Alister Spencer’s improvising is emotional and dynamic. Playing is based on emotions and huge variety of expressions. Pianist masterfully jumps from the one mood to another in surprising and gorgeous way. The sudden and even schocking changes of moods are made naturally and without any effort – shaky, bright and forcing chords are mixed with gentle and tight notes, expressive and remarkable melodies, bright and turbulent culminations or dramatic crescendo and diminuendo, also sudden abbruptions, pauses and soft, light and abstract improvisations. All these elements are fused together with coloristic elements, ornamentations, repetitive chords and rhythms, strict and moving roulades or touching passages. His playing is also filled with emotion – pianist suddenly dives in tragedy, sorrow, sadness or soft nostalgic solos, who finally bursts into roaring, sparkling and vivid solos. Emotional, expressive and vivid playing makes an effort to suggestive and innovative sound of whole album. Bebop, post bop, some light intonations of blues and traditional jazz are organically integrated in free improvisation and the basics of avant-garde jazz. Satoko Fuji is another one central figure of avant-garde jazz in Europe and American jazz scene. His playing style is organically and subtly constructed from ethnic Japan music, free improvisation, other Asian countries music, Western Europe music, 1960’s and 1970’s avant-garde jazz, Afroamerican music, experimental and contemporary academical music and academic avant-garde. Pianist has suggestive and evocative playing manner, he also likes exotic and outrageous combinations, engaging instrumentation decisions and innovative sound experiments. He mix electronics, special effects and acoutic instruments in most part of his compositions. This album is no exception – pianist colorfully and with passion creates evocative and abstract musical pattern, which is filled with short melodic pieces, repetitive rhythms, bordering dynamics, gorgeous timbres and surrounded by special effects, unusual sounds and various electronics. Glitch, sonic system experiments, sound machine’s alterations and modifications, computer and electronic devices sounds, imitations of various nature’s sounds and modificated timbres of instruments make a gorgeous and interesting musical pattern. Satoko Fuji’s improvisations are gorgeous and beautiful – it’s filled with innovative musical decisions, who make an equal synthesis with the traditional musical language elements, outrageous timbres, exotic instrumental combinations and other similar elements. Passionate, creative and inventive playing of both musicians makes an effort to evocative, engaging and innovative sound of the album.
Avant Scena 