Two Sounds Ensemble | Inversions
inversion I / inversion II / inversion III / inversion IV / inversion V / inversion VI
[einnicken era 0416]
total time: 39:46. released: 5/2004

Stefan Wistrand - tenor & soprano saxophones
Joakim Simonsson - piano

"Sweden's TSE-Two Sounds Ensemble-reigns in its free jazz vision with
laudable restraint, with a lovely wandering progression in its instantly
composed music that stays appealingly within earshot of the lyrical and
melodic musical path, stretching structure with breaking it.
Stephan Wistrand blows soprano and tenor saxophones; Joakim Simonsson plays
piano. The Swedish duo-both players have backgrounds in jazz, free
improvisation and rock-stay mostly mid-tempo on a set of introspective and
ruminative tunes; and like all good improvising units, they listen to and
respond to each other's statements.
Simonsson brings Satoko Fujii's piano work to mind at times, shifting from
passages that are poetic and melodic and lyrical into riffs that sweetly
sting; while Wistrand's sax work stays straightforward, robust on the
tenor, with a mainstream feel in spite of the meandering atmosphere.
The tunes, I - VI, range in length from a minute and a half to fourteen
minutes plus, and I find the two longer pieces the most rewarding, with the
duo exploring all the permutations of the improvisational scene they set.
One of the most accessible and enjoyable free jazz sets this year."
~ Dan McClenaghan (All About Jazz 12-Aug-04) USA

"Both musicians are extremely capable, straddling a variety of stylistic lines;
the main interest for me is the close level of interplay between the two. In
particular, Simonsson stretches from rootsy gospel-ish chords to plunging,
abstract clusters within the space of minutes, and Wistrand has a really deep,
gravelly tone on tenor which I like a lot. The whole thing seems much more
focused than entirely free duets usually do - these guys obviously have played
together quite a bit, and have a good feel for each others' ranges. There's plenty
of swirling abstraction, as one might expect, but they also keep things varied
with some beautifully lyrical passages and some gorgeous on the spot (presumably)
themes... it seems like they really explored the space and found some interesting
corners along the way. Definitely recommended."
Charles Walker (www.jazzcorner.com) USA

"THOUGHTFUL IMPROVISATION. This is a beautiful and melodic record that
treads with grace and feeling on already entered improvisational grounds. To be
considered a narrow musical form the Two Sound Ensemble’s interpretation of
the idiom is inviting and easy to listen to. They aren’t afraid of the known and
dare to play a beautiful note without blushing.
Joakim Simonsson executes a kind of piano accompaniment, but not only that.
He listens, supports, paves the way and develops the group sound. Stefan Wistrand
plays tenor and soprano saxophones. The soprano sax sound reminiscences the
recently diseased Steve Lacy, and you may have poorer models. Well chosen notes,
and not too many.
After two minutes they’re through with the abrupt free playing way and land
in a music of long lines with yearning, sadness, certainty and a good deal of passion."
Leif Carlsson (Lira 4/2004)

"For an untrained ear occasionally quite brutal harmonies that call for sympathetic
and sensible listening. But if you stand the test you’ll be richly rewarded. TSE
presents a poetic music with a beautiful and eventful inner landscape, where
piano and wind instruments co-operate surprisingly well by capturing each other’s
needs of path finding leaps with supporting harmonies."
Stefan Nilson (Nerikes Allehanda 21-June-04)

“The music is easy to listen to and enjoyable.”
Sven Boija (OJ – Orkesterjournalen 9/2004)