Steve Jobs is quoted in this album cover as saying that creativity is ‘‘just connecting things’’. The disc offers some proof of that theory by showing the talent of multi-instrumentalist Hemmingsen playing music (composed by Dave Lisik) and connecting with his own improvisations on tenor and soprano saxophones, clarinets and also bassoon. (I love the throaty sounds from the bass clarinet.) The disc has then been connected electronically by Lisik, who recorded, edited and mixed this resulting electroacoustic music.
Eight tracks contain the spooky Fate and the Processor and perky Latest Stories, as well as Cupertino, Serious As, Complexion, Habitual Consciousness and Playing Defence (with its superb sax intro played by Hemmingsen.)
Verdict: Impressive new sounds conjured.
Eight compositions from Canadian-born Lisik recorded by a quintet of professional jazz musicians in New York are aired in this brightly illustrated album. Lisik mixed the recordings himself in the US and Wellington and the results are slickly entertaining. An item credited to Hoagy Carmichael as composer is Georgia On My Mind, but significantly reshaped into the Lisik style of improvised connections.
The five top jazz musicians guarantee this disc’s success. Steal Bryan’s Laptop opens the tracks, which include Hooptie on the 405 and The Disgruntled Plagiarist. ("Machaut" in the title tune refers to a French poet and composer of the 14th century.)
Verdict: Appealing, slick modern jazz.
