John Corbett Albums (3)
What The Critics Say
Twofer collects string duets recorded in two separate sessions. The first four tracks are duets between John Corbett on electric guitar and bassist Torsten Müller. The last five showcase Corbett on acoustic guitar and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm. All improvisations are soft, restrained, and intimate. A lot of room is left for silence. Musical events tend to be short and scattered (this is more the case with the Lonberg-Holm tracks), creating abstract pieces that require the listener's complete attention. This approach is pushed to the limit on "Fraxinella Jostle," a fractured piece where not much happens. Fans of high-velocity free improv should stay away, but those able to invest themselves in more cerebral incarnations of the genre will appreciate Twofer. This CD was released as a limited edition of 500 copies. ~ François Couture, All Music Guide
'I'm Sick About My Hat'
Release Date 11/16/1999
Tracks 13
Label Atavistic
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This series of duets between brass and strings is a quirky view of the kind of improvisation that relies on the deepest kind of intuitive listening and the keenest sense of humor -- something Jon Corbett possesses in spades. Make no mistake; this isn't some free rambling atonal jelly record. Rather, it's a fairly precise series of improvisations done in a jazz mannerism that accents not only the interplay of the instruments involved -- whether they be trumpet with electric guitar, trombone with acoustic guitar or vice versa -- but also the differing nuances of tone, dynamic, and timbre than can be broached, breached, and completely abrogated while still making music. There are nine selections here, and none of them matter in and of themselves. True, some are more "jazz" than others, but in a sense none of them would make sense on their own. They stand as a body of work recorded over a couple of days that reflect mindset, attitude, manual dexterity, and willingness on the part of the two principals. The most important aspect of this music is how playful and good-natured it is. So often improvisers are so serious the music they create, no matter how innovative, is strangled beneath the weight of their concerns. That's not the case here, as this set is wildly creative, but it's warm, funny, and wry as well. This is avant jazz you can almost hum to. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
