#5019, Music for Bass Clarinet
The rich, woody, earthy sound of the bass clarinet takes center stage with electroacoustic music by Canadian Alison Burik, motoric meditative music by Swiss jazzers BLAER led by composer and pianist Maja Nydegger; in music by the improvising trio Vazesh, comprising of Iranian tar, bass clarinet and bass; and Arabic jazz-infused compositions drawing on Algerian roots by Anouar Kaddour Cherif. Plus, works with echoes of the traditional sounds of Syria and Ireland.
Hear Montreal-based saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and improviser Allison Burik in music from their recent record, Realm. Burik layers subtle electronic treatments over alto sax, bass clarinet, and field recordings (especially those captured during their residency in Skagaströnd, Iceland on their three-part piece, Solstice. Then, listen as Australian-based Vazesh play an improvisation inspired by the Persian oral tradition, Radif. Vazesh is the trio of Iranian tar player Hamed Sadeghi (Eishan Ensemble), saxophonist-bass clarinetist Jeremy Rose (Earshift Orchestra, The Vampires) and bassist Lloyd Swanton (The Necks, The catholics). There’s also music from Swiss-based Anouar Kaddour Cherif whose Arab jazz-inflected compositions draw on his Algerian musical roots. The quartet features Clément Meunier on bass clarinet, Hannes Junker on drums and Antoine Brochot on double bass.
Then, hear Finnish composers Tapani Rinne (bass clarinet) and Juha Maki-Patola (keyboards and electronics), who skate between jazz, neo-classical, and ambient music, leaning heavily on improvisation and electronic processing. Listen also to Swiss jazzers Blaer, led by composer and pianist Maja Nydegge, who feature bass clarinet in their motoric and seemingly simple, quiet and melancholical pieces. Plus, listen to London impromptu group Flock, a supergroup collaboration which brings together London jazzers and experimental players: Bex Burch (Vula Viel), Sarathy Korwar, Dan “Danalogue” Leavers (Soccer96, The Comet Is Coming), Al MacSween (Maisha) and the bass clarinet of Tamar Osborn (Collocutor). There’s also work with echoes of the traditional sounds of Syria from the Mukdad Rothenberg Lankow trio, and more. - Caryn Havlik
Program #5019, Music for Bass Clarinet (First aired 6/18/25)
ARTIST: Michel Portal
WORK: Mozambic [1:05]
RECORDING: Turbulence
SOURCE: Le Chant du Monde
INFO: Available on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, YouTube
ARTIST: Allison Burik
WORK: Solstice I (Dreams and Memories) [2:14]
RECORDING: Realm
SOURCE/INFO: https://allisonburik.bandcamp.com/album/realm
ARTIST: Vazesh
WORK: Zircon [4:40]
RECORDING: Tapestry
SOURCE: Earshift Music
INFO: https://vazesh.bandcamp.com/music
ARTIST: Anouar Kaddour Cherif
WORK: VIRGULE [3:16]
RECORDING: Djawla
SOURCE: Riverboat Records/World Music Network
INFO: anouarkaddourcherif.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Blaer
WORK: The Unknown [7:19]
RECORDING: Yellow
SOURCE: Ronin Rhythm Records
INFO: roninrhythmrecords.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Flock
WORK: Expand [3:59]
RECORDING: Flock
SOURCE: Strut Records
INFO: flock.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Tapani Rinne & Juha Ma ki-Patola
WORK: Decaying Light [4:02]
RECORDING: Decaying Light
SOURCE: Bigo & Twigetti
INFO: https://bigoandtwigetti.bandcamp.com/album/decaying-light
ARTIST: Michel Portal
WORK: Mozambic [8:42]
RECORDING: Turbulence
SOURCE: Le Chant du Monde
INFO: Available on Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, YouTube
ARTIST: Mukdad Rothenberg Lankow
WORK: Once upon a time in Damascus [5:37]
RECORDING: In the Wake of Memories
SOURCE: Clermont Music
INFO: clermontmusic.com/mrl-memories
ARTIST: Martin Hayes Quartet
WORK: The Humours of Scariff [4:21]
RECORDING: The Blue Room
SOURCE: 251
INFO: Available on YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon
ARTIST: Soolmaan Quintet
WORK: Waiting for Chrysalis [:17]
RECORDING: Letters to Handenberg
SOURCE: Home Records
INFO: homerecordsbe.bandcamp.com
