Serious improvisers take heart: multi-woodwind instrumentalist Golia and harpist Allen mean business. Harmonic overtones and smears, lovely melodies, emotions that run the gamut from adoration to rage are all within these two brilliant musicians' purview. The result is a recording that most will certainly find unusual and mavens of the avant-garde will relish. The 14 tracks, some as short as three to four minutes, others stretched to six or seven, have Golia pretty much taking the lead and Allen following. Duets 1-12 are bookended by the playful but serious No Titles Yet and For M.P., which has Golia humming through his instrument in a Native American fashion, with Allen picking her way through the forest at daybreak. The duets vary in pacing, primarily in a no-time framework. The stance is mostly dark and foreboding, but at times bright and hopeful. There is a decided chamber music feel, the series of duets acting as a suite. Pure melodic content is not as important an element as the emotion of the moment. There are times when Golia is reaching for the stratosphere on soprano sax, fluttering on flute, or growling on bass clarinet, then chooses to speak in spiritual, tonic terms. Allen does some rattling and twanging of the harp, but mainly stays with the beautiful, spare, or cascading arpeggiated lines one most closely associates with the instrument. The challenged listener will find much to absorb and contemplate during this program of unique improvisational endeavor. Much beauty can be found in even the harshest reality -- the proof is here. - Michael G. Nastos
Tracks
01. No Titles Yet
02. Duet Number 1
03. Duet Number 2
04. Duet Number 3
05. Duet Number 4
06. Duet Number 5
07. Duet Number 6
08. Duet Number 7
09. Duet Number 8
10. Duet Number 9
11. Duet Number 10
12. Duet Number 11
13. Duet Number 12
14. For M.P.
SUSAN ALLEN harp
VINNY GOLIA piccolo flute, C flute, alto flute, bass flute, Strich saxophone, Bb clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, contrabassoon
Recorded June 5, 1998 at Newzone Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Nine Winds Records – NWCD0204