Rich mixtures of sounds abound here.
The name “Sonus Inenarrabilis” actually means “undefinable sound.” Conducted by Thomas Carlo Bo, the nine piece team features a rich mixture of strings, reeds and rhythm interpreting the compositions of jazz composer and French horn player John Clark. The pieces here mix chamber atmospheres and pastoral moods, as the strings charm their way on “Sibilia Colubri” and “Turbulence” while the clarinet gives a Bartok atmosphere on “Outrage” and the bassoon gets playful on “Eviter les Contrefacons.” The textures are rich, giving hints of Eastern European harmonies yet with a gypsy flavor. Intriguing!
A double pair of reeds lead the way as David Binney/as and Quinsin Nachoff/ts front the rhythm team of Matt Mitchell/key and Kenny Wollesen along with the guest appearance of Christine Duncan, who plays the “theremin,” which is an electronic doo-hickey.
Binney and Nachoff meld together on the tick-tocking “Tightrope” before reaching a cataclysmic climax, while the quirky groove of “Complimentary Opposites” mixes electronics and keyboards that recall vintage early 70’s fusion. Binney’s alto gets warm on the semi-classical “Mind’s Ear” before Mitchell’s piano starts swirling on the wild and frenzied “Tilted.” A return to Forever?