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| Karl Berger's Improvisers Orchestra returns to the Shapeshifter Lab On Thursday, August 29, Karl Berger's Orchestra of 25+ professional string, horn, and percussion soloists returns to the Shapeshifter Lab in Brooklyn, 18 Whitwell Place The KBIO continues to turn improvisational ideas developed in the 7:00 pm workshop/ rehearsal into a fully formed 8:15 pm performance. Conducted in Karl's inimitable style, developed at the legendary Creative Music Studio, this orchestra of extraordinary improvisers explores original themes as well as melodies from the world's folk traditions and compositions written by the likes of Don Cherry or Ornette Coleman, as well as musical ideas that arise spontaneously. One of the orchestra's trademarks is Ingrid Sertso's uncanny vocalization and poetry. Recent reviews paint a vivid picture of the KBIO proceedings: Karl Berger has been a pioneer in large-scale jazz improvisation longer than just about anybody, which explains why his Improvisers Orchestra swings as hard, and interestingly, and often hauntingly as they do… Berger is an elegant and economical pianist, which informs how he conducts…. Like the best big bands, this crew use the entirety of their dynamic range. The ensemble weren't often all playing at once, making those lush crescendos all the more towering and intense….…with the phantasmagorical sweep of the Gil Evans Orchestra and the rough-and-tumble bustle of the Mingus bands. The camaraderie and warmth of the repartee between the orchestra and conductor – and among the orchestra itself – was visceral. Lucid Culture The suite-like performances have a warm, buoyant vibe issuing from brief folkloric-like motifs and the low-key, common-sense guidance Karl offers his players. They are mostly veteran musicians from avant rock and world music as well as jazz scenes, and can expand on simple themes paying utmost attention to dynamics and each other…..The collective's intuited communication has attained a high point since shows began last April 2011 Howard Mandel The compositions of Karl Berger have a clear-cut destination, with a beginning, a middle, and an ending…..Surprisingly, much of Mr. Berger's music isn't exactly free form but draws on lush harmonies and a well-defined relationship between foreground soloists and background…..The music is comparatively easy on the ears because Mr. Berger also relies on woodwinds, reeds and strings (as well as the soothing voice of Ingrid Sertso) rather than brass. Will Friedwald "I love the atmosphere that Karl and Ingrid create. For me it's an oasis in the middle of all these stressful energies that the city brings." Sonia Megias The rotating cast of soloists, with a solid core of regulars, includes Warren Smith, John Hertenstein, drums, Ken Filiano, Max Johnson, Adam Lane, Hilliard Greene a.o. (bass), Kenny Wessel, Harvey Valdes, Ted Orr (guitar), John Ehis, mandolin, Peter Apfelbaum, Ras Moshe (tenor sax, flute), Yoni Kretzmer, Stephen Gauci, James Lewis (tenor sax), Patrick Brennan, Welf Dorr, Mercedes Figueras (alto sax), Catherine Sikora, Avram Fever (soprano sax), Bill Ylitalo (baritone sax, alto flute, piccolo flute) Michael Lytle, Josh Sinton (bass clarinet), Blaise Siwula, Jason Candler, Miguel Malla (clarinet) Steven Bernstein, Kirk Knuffke, Thomas Heberer, Brian Groder (trumpet), Yatsuno Katsuki (euphonium), Westbrook Johnson, Reut Regev (trombone), Sylvain Leroux (African flutes), Nick Gianni (bass flute), Ken Ya Kawaguchi, (shakuhachi flute), Sana Nagano, Chern Hwei Fung, Concetta Abate, Frederika Krier (violin), Jason Hwang, Judith Insell (viola), Ingrid Sertso (vocals), and surprise guests. All net proceeds support the Creative Music Studio's Archive Project, the preservation and re-mastering of over 400 historic CMS recordings by some of the finest innovators in music, in collaboration with Columbia University. write your comments about the article :: © 2013 Jazz News :: home page |