The German-based label Nemu Records has released a trio of adventurous albums, all united in that they include drummer Klaus Kugel in different permutations. Hang on tight!
No Toxic has Kugel in a trio with Ruby Glog/as-ss and Christian Ramond/b on fourteen originals long on intuition and experimentation. The three dig in on “Hot Rod McBeck” while Glog toys with his mouthpieces on “Basalta” and scatters abroad for “Gardl’s Dream” Bass and drum convers on “Bottiefish” and Ramond charges out on “Carol’s Dream” with someone banging a gong on “Jour Fruit”. A quick emptying of rounds.
Black Holes Are Hard To Find have Kugel teamed with Kazuhisa Uchihashi on e-guitar and electronics and Franz Pul Schubert playing alto and soprano saxes. The elelctorincs give an Eno-ish ambience on “Explosive Past” with Schubert puffing his sax like he’s sucking on an Egyptioan hookah on the title track. There’s lots of dynamic interplay on “New Kind Of Terrain” and the team gets extroverted on the chaotic “Additional Rendezvous” and Supersonic Interaction”. Who’s directing traffic?
Last but not least, Transitions has a kind of Charles Mingusy feel with Nate Wooley/tp, Ken Vandermark/ts-cl, Christopher Dell/vib and Christian Ramond/b join with Kubel. The group gets bluesy on “Around Town” and does some rapid hard bopping on “En Attente”. A collection of “Transitions” includes some bass work in front on “V”, screeching horns and gurgles on “VI” and adjustments of valves and pads on “II”. Cats getting herded.