WEB REVIEWs VITAL WEEKLY ============ number 321 ------------ week 18 ------------ JAKOB DRAMINSKY HOJMARK - For the Birds (CD on Multisounds) Some introduction may be needed here. Jakob Draminsky Hojmark is a musician and composer from Denmark, active since 1977. As a bassclarinet and sopranino player he has his place in the world of European improvised music. He studied with Pierre Dorge, Wolfgang Fuchs and Gabriel Brncic. He participated in electro-acustic workshops. He received commissions for works for instrumental groups and theatres. In recent years he collaborated with Pascal Comelade as a member of the Bel Canto Orchestra, Tzarina Q Cut, with Mark Cunningham in Catch 22 and Koij Asano. These collaborations show that Barcelona is one of his resendencies. This is also where his solo cd 'For the Birds' originated between october 2001 and january 2002. The cd contains 13 instrumentals for a little ensemble. The pieces were written over a period of 20 years. Most of them functioned within theatre and stage-events and were newly arranged and recorded for this cd. All 17 musicians that participate on this one are part of the music scene of Barcelona. Well known musicians like Pascal Comelade, Mark Cunningham, Nuno Rebelo are among them. The music is a kind of low profile chambermusic: unpretentious, not screaming for attention. It is not hip, trendy or macho. The tunes are simple and sound universal and timeless. The cd opens with a Ornette Coleman-like tune with Nuno Rebelo starring on guitar. Another one comes close to klezmer music and has a true 'solo' by Mark Cunningham on cornet. Hojmark plays bassclarinet and/ sopranino sax on most pieces. Cello, double bass, drums, guitar are some of the others instruments used here. But also theremin, casio and hammond. Perfectionism and virtuosity in the playing are not the aim here and that makes the music very sympathetic. It's for the birds (DM). Address: http://www.multisounds.dk/ Jakob Draminsky Højmark: For The Birds  (A-) (MultiSounds - 2002) - A little non-ambient diversion flies into avant/retro jazz regions... delightfully far from "ordinary", and a real hoot at that! http://www.ambientrance.org/0602/index.html Jakob Draminsky Højmark: For The Birds (MultiSounds - 2002) A little non-ambient diversion, For The Birds flies into avant/retro jazz regions (which, for a reference point, often reminds me of the Squirrel Nut Zippers w/o vocals...). Call it kinda experimental anyway, and flap your wings to the wild, flashbacky coolness stirred up by the instrumental excursions of Jakob Draminsky Højmark. Eccentric guitar pluckings and reedy leads begin by playfully Pouncing (2:59) over a sassy acoustic rhythm section. Driven by bass clarinet and organ chords, moodier Car 'n Van (5:48) writhes in sinuously burning road-maneuvers. So cool! I picture cartoon characters rumbaing to Heltemod & Hjerteblod, laced with occasional theremin antics. Accordant gives Marcha Azul a bit of an Italiano flavor, though the brooding stand-up bass gives it film-noir feel... making for an an intriguing mix. A bit of dubbiness lurks beneath the panglobal wanderings through Masai, Masai. And Then sounds like Auld Lang Syne and other seasonal classics in mood and tone if not in actual notation. Beneath the tuneful bass clarinet leads of The Visit, unusual percussion brews with weirdly smoldering theremin output. Like some Moroccan lounge rave-up of the '30s, Champ of Chambers ups the tempo with rowdy enthusiasm and occasional yelped "hey"'s. Track 13 says Goodbye Mr. Sommersax, shutting down the production with bittersweet-though-spirited reeds, bass and brass a'blaring in farewell. Quirky with being too kooky, I've had some serious fun with For The Birds, bopping along with the time-spanning combo groove of Jakob Draminsky Højmark (normally been found working in opera/stage productions as well as with musique concrete projects) and his talented friends of a feather (who have flocked from around the world). Not ambient, but not delightfully far from "ordinary", and a real hoot at that! A- On Denmark's MultiSounds label. This review posted 06.09.02 AmbiEntrance © 2002-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners). All-Music Guide at http://www.allmusic.com Højmark, Jakob Draminsky For the Birds MultiSounds MSCD05 2002 2001 10-2002 01 Those who want to investigate Jakob Draminsky Højmark on the count of his activities as sideman reedist for Pascal Comelade should definitely start here. For the Birds was recorded in late 2001, but it culls lively instrumental tunes written during the previous two decades for various film, theatre, and group projects. Højmark selected a nucleus of musicians from Barcelona for the recording session: trumpeter Mark Cunningham, bassist Eduard Altaba, percussionist Bob Shake, drummer Quico Samsó. A cast of guests complete the instrumentation for each track, including accordionist Alfredo Costa Monteiro and Comelade himself (on toy piano in ≥Sometimes≤). A decade spent playing with the latter leaves its marks. His fans will recognize something of his naivete, playful melodies and quirky arrangements. Højmark adds a Klezmer touch (clarinet oblige) and a dose of oddball electronics here and there. Highlights are numerous: the irresistible East-European-like party songs ≥Pouncing≤ and ≥Champs of Chambers", the ballad ≥Loved and Lost≤ featuring the stunningly powerful voice of Carmen Sánchez (on first listen youπll swear itπs a singing saw!). and a revisited ≥Car ån Van≤,very different from the recording included on the 1995 CD At the Gallery. This album is thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended to fans of creative instrumental music the likes of Comeladeπs. François Couture