Eric Golub, viola and many more instruments; Bill Douglas, double bass; Ian Dogole, dumbek, global drumkit, talking drum.
Eric Golub, playing mostly viola, and throughout the rest of the CD a battery of other instruments, sketches a wide range of interesting sounds on his opening track, "Sultan Avenue". Helped by his like-minded associates, Bill Douglas on bass and Ian Dogole on drums, you are made to listen differently because we have only a viola, a bass, and a dumbek ( an hour glass shaped hand drum found throughout the Arab world). "Roaming And Climbing" continues the improvisational spontaneity; this has a seductive, earthy feel, and an engaging rhythmic quality. In both of these tracks the viola is often played by holding it like a guitar.
"Biola Dance", arranged by Golub is a traditional Indonesian dance from West Java; improvising on four different instruments, a viola, Japanese three stringed fiddle, electric viola and a five string electric violin. He invokes haunting sounds, and draws on many threads of world music as it swings from solid raucousness to wistful interludes and a swirling finish. "Up On The Lookout", Golub makes his viola stretch and wail plaintively; the sounds will mean different things to different people; my daughter in another room thought she was hearing Whales. "Dark Star", another Golub arrangement is taken from "The Grateful Dead", the mind expansion rock cult band. A Jazzier piece with an uncertain edge, it evokes the vibes of a Grateful Dead concert in 1971. This is a CD for those who like new sounds and enjoy the challenge. Eric Golub is not afraid to take you there.
by Ferdinand Maylin
(Pluck! is available in Jazz Now Direct CD Store)
Jazz Now Interactive June 2004 Vol 14 No. 2 - Table of Contents
Your comments: jazznow@scbglobal.net