bassX3

gebhard ullmann (bassclarinet and bassflute)
peter herbert (double bass)
chris dahlgren (double bass)




this is a worldwide unique trio located on the lower end of the tonal range of improvised chamber music. all three are well known improvisers and composers and their first cd entitled "bassX3" has been released on drimala records in 2005.  


the press:

bruce gallanter (downtown music gallery, nyc 3/'05)

" the marvelous blend of bowed and plucked basses with ghost-like flute or clarinet fills the air. a lusciously recorded trio, warm and resonant, with the wood, strings and hair of the bow well captured. this sounds like a mostly improvised affair, yet the trio works magically together bending and twisting their notes into unique shapes. when both bassists are bowing on the title piece, it sounds as if the cosmos is being awoken, digging into the murky depths. often the overall sound is quite alien and other-worldly, hard to believe it is just a couple of bassists and a low-end reeds-man."

steven loewy (allmusic guide, usa 7/'05)

" just when you think that he has done it all, sax sophisticate gebhard ullmann rolls the die with a new take, this time one that turns the concept of the saxophone-led trio on its face. perhaps only ullmann could explore the depths of hades with such off-handed candor. those familiar only with ullmann's work on various saxophones may be surprised by his virtuosity on flute and clarinet, though his remarkable discography reflects a passionate explorer whose projects bubble with innovative sounds. for this one, highlights abound on almost every track ... there are incredible feats of musical acumen throughout by all three players, the results being alternatively startling, invigorating, disturbing and even astonishing. "

rolf thomas (jazzthetik, germany)

" hypnotisch und nicht von dieser welt."

mark patel (one final note 8/'05)

" ...an ethereal, dreamlike blending of bass instruments that completely captivates. colors factor into the titles of a few tunes here and it is no accident since color and texture are laid out as plainly as if one could stand witness to a master painter laying paint on canvas."

dan mcclenaghan (allabout jazz, usa 3/'05)

" the mood throughout has a brooding and introspective feel - darkly passionate, hypnotic at times, and always deeply organic, evoking images of the slow and relentless churning of subterranean life. a darkly alluring listening experience."

born in new york city in 1961, chris studied with renowned jazz bassist dave holland. in 1986 he received a ba in jazz studies from the cincinnati conservatory of music at u.c. and for three years studied voice and composition with minimalist LaMonte Young. More recently, he has studied composition and experimental music with anthony braxton, javanese gamelan with i. harjito and the north indian allauddin gharana with master ali akbar khan.

since moving to new york city in 1993 chris has been active on the downtown music scene in his own and other's projects. he has perfromed with thelikes of anthony braxton, joe lovano, charles tolliver, herb ellis, art lande, fred hersch and others.

chris has written music for full-length theater, dance, and film, video and sound installation productions. in 2001 he was the musical director and arranger for 'limbus', a mechanical opera by jay bolotin.

his sound installations have taken place in showcases such as lamama galleria, cbgb Gallery, the carriage house gallery, daap at u.c. gallery, the ensemble theater of cincinnati and the headlands center for the arts. his installation 'the harmonic pool sound corridor' is in the permanent collection of the speed art museum in louisville, ky.

born leap day of 1960 in bludenz, austria, peter herbert has been living in paris since 2003 (in new york from 1989-2003) and leads a busy schedule with an average of 100 concerts annually performing throughout the world.

trained as a classical pianist/bassist, after years of successful 'main stream' jazz activities, he is now developing his own voice in the field of improvised music. recent activities include solo concerts, in 2002 in New York (glassfarm), london (the vortex), oman, jerusalem and a focus on small ensembles like his duos with david tronzo (cd: segmente, azm 1001) and carol robinson (bass-clarinette/electronics) or his parisian trio with chris culpo (p) and jean-charles richard (sax). He is also involved in arabic music with artists like oud-master marcel khalife or simon shaheen, youssef el idrissi.

herbert is also a prolific and versatile composer, mostly commissioned by european orchestras and ensembles. he has written for orchestras, choirs and chamber groups, designed experimental movie soundtracks and incidental music for european avant-garde theatre groups

as a Jazz musician, he has worked with many artists and groups such as the john abercrombie/marc copland Quartet, bobby previte's "the horse", vienna art orchestra, john clark octet, art farmer and woody shaw.





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