gebhard ullmann (bass clarinet and bass flute) 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. Clayton Thomas is a double bassist and grass roots organiser working in the broad spectrum of improvised and experimental music. He is Australian, but lives in Berlin. I'm trying to work out a physical activity equally engaged in electronic and acoustic music aesthetics, while maintaining the kind of transitional and transformative energy of the music that changed my life. I draw inspiration from creative music of all eras, happily learning from and engaging with improvisers, sound artists, composers and thinkers alive and kicking in the 21st century. I have been inspired and pushed by many great musicians, but would especially thank my first teachers Wilber Morris and Peter Kowald, and Jon Rose, Jim Denley, Andrew Meisel, Cooper-Moore, Tony Buck and Hollis Taylor for doing some real work on the topic.
chris dahlgren (double bass and objects)
clayton thomas (double bass and objects)
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" was released on drimala records in 2005.
the band re-started in 2009 with clayton thomas on the second bass with concerts and a recording.
sounding at times like an orchestra or an electro-acoustic ensemble it performs intimate chamber-music in the next moment.
the
new cd entitled "transatlantic" has been released on leo records in 2012.
new youtube videos from concerts around berlin:
Long Epic
The No Piece
The Jazz Piece
Improvisation #1
Improvisation #2
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.
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