If you don’t associate the name Sam Gendel with much more than a brief mention on the German radio station Deutschlandfunk Kultur, then this compilation of curiosities, demos, and cupboard and hard drive finds by the saxophonist from Los Angeles is the perfect introduction. But a warning in advance: The unbridled weirdness that Gendel displays and presents in the raw material here requires the right place and setting. The miniatures – only two of the 34(!) pieces exceed the three-minute limit – are concentrates of Sam Gendel’s musical maxim: just get started and don’t forget to chuck in plenty of madness. He presents tropes he previously introduced on his albums »Satin Doll«, »DRM« and »Music For Saxophone And Bass Guitar« (with Sam Wilkes): harmonised saxophone that allows the woodwind tones to flow mercurially; gruffly cut and sliced loops in the accompaniment; fresh jazz deconstructions. Above all, »SUPERSTORE«, like its predecessor »Fresh Bread«, is not in need of a safety rope: Rather than just skilful song writing, which Gendel also masters, you can hear the wealth of ideas here, the slightly manic genius at work. Here and there it rattles incessantly or he loses himself in a solo, and then he gets caught up in his own endless loop. In between, Blake Mills and Philippe Melanson (on »Gu Shi«) and others provide support and his partner, Marcella Cytrynowic, contributes drawings.
Fabiano Do Nascimento
Das Nuvens
Leaving