Communio Musica - Special Alloy

This ‘group’ was put together by Hugh Steinmetz (trumpet etc.) in 1996 initially for live performances as part of the Copenhagen Cultural Capital of Europe. A CD was released after this, and  it was suggested by Robin Taylor (drum programming, keys, bass etc) that they record another CD together. Although some of those involved have worked with Robin on other projects, this was Hugh’s project, and recordings took place in the winter of 1997 although they were not released until three years later. Not every musician plays on every track, and they don’t all play on any single track, but there are a lot of guys involved and the result is an avant-garde big band, where improvisation and bouncing ideas is very much the order of the day which is quite an accomplishment given how many were involved was heavily involved. The musicians involved (as well as Hugh and Robin) were as follows:- Karsten Vogel (saxophones), Steffen Poulsen (saxophone etc.), Michael Nielsen (saxophones), Christian Kyhl (saxophones), Kim Menzer (trombone, saxophone etc.), Christer Irgens-Møller (piano), Marko Martinovic (piano), Peter Friis Nielsen (bass), Ture Kindt Larsen (double bass), Peter Ole Jørgensen (drums), Rasmus Grosell (drums, percussion), Giorgio Musoni (percussion) and Anna-Lise Malmros (percussion).

Possibly due to the large number of musicians involved, this album doesn’t contain the spontaneity that I have come to expect from Robin’s work, either solo or as part of groups, and I found it quite a difficult album to get into it just because there are so many different styles at play. There are times when the piano is very much the lead, with some strident bass, whereas at other it is the turn of the brass. Sometimes it swings with a latin beat, whereas at others it is RIO and almost staccato in approach. Many of the songs are quite short, and “Air Certificate” is one that I wish was a lot longer as the sabar drums gives the number a life and vitality.Overall this is an interesting album, although certainly not as essential as some of the other things that Robin has been involved with.