Back in the dark ages (read: before the Internet) I spent a fair amount of time searching out new music by paying very close attention to the listings of my local public and classical radio stations. On any given week night there might be broadcasts of solo works, string quartets, and all manner of chamber ensemble and full-on orchestral madness.
That was how I discovered David Ocker. Specifically, Ocker's solo bass clarinet version of the 4th movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 3 in F. My cassette recording of that performance has a lot of miles on it—the bass clarinet (so full of character!) being put through those winding passages was something that just made my ears light up.
I honestly hadn't thought of Ocker for many years (sadly, that tape hasn't seen the light of day since I moved in 2004). That is, until listening to the first moments of Penumbra by The Bennie Maupin Ensemble. Maupin's bass clarinet brought back all of the reasons why my ears are so attracted to solo works—the textures and sounds made by the instrument, performer, and instrument parts (clacking valves, for example) provide a kind of music all their own.
Of course, Penumbra is not a solo performance. Maupin's very flexible group does manage to focus so tightly on certain ideas that the musical conceptions make the listener forget about the existence of a group. A neat (if unintentional) trick.
Penumbra begins with "Neophilia 2006." After an opening clarinet phrase, drums (Michael Stephans) and percussion (Daryl Munyungo Jackson) frame a groove that is soon joined by the bass (Darek "Oles" Oleskiewicz) and then the leader's clarinet. Maupin breaks away from the full band ostinato to improvise over the top of the proceedings. The tune ends with a reverse construction—bass clarinet exiting...then bass...and finally percussion.
Article comments
1 - Michael J. West
Oooooooh. Sounds delish!
2 - Mark Saleski
it is! i didn't say this, but at some points the bass clarinet also reminded me of Braxton...though not as, uh...well, whatever the hell Braxton is.
3 - DJRadiohead
Well done, Sir Saleski.
4 - Aaron Fleming
Aye, this is much better than Kenny G, you won't get many references to Bitches Brew inserted into something about him, except maybe "I wish I was listening to Bitches Brew right now, rather than being trapped in this elevator hell."
5 - godoggo
Nice to see that he's getting some attention again. One thing that makes living in Lala land almost tolerable is that I've had a lot of opertunities to see him play for cheap or free a lot, (I'm ambivalent about whether to wish that this will change, though the ration of people with talent to people with taste in this city means that it probably won't). I first saw him 20 years ago in Donald Byrd's band at the Watts Towers festival, and did a double take when his name was announced.
6 - godoggo
I am am a professional typist not.
7 - Connie Phillips
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