Henry Kaiser
Paul Plimley
with Danielle DeGruttola
Passwords
 

Henry Kaiser, guitar and bass guitar
Paul Plimley, piano
Danielle DeGruttola, cello
 

Recorded October 1996 and November 1997.  These two masters of improvisation unfold a melange of musical wonderment. They are joined on several tracks by the rich, sonorous sounds of Danielle DeGruttola's cello.  By turns, whimsical, contemplative, rhythmical and open-ended; always thoughtful, understated and engaging. It all unfolds in a manner which suggests that no other unfolding would do.

What the critics are saying;

A meeting of like souls, Vancouver pianist Paul Plimley and Bay Area guitarist Henry Kaiser both seem to operate on a higher  vibrational plane than most mere mortals...Their collaboration is speedy, surreal, fragmented and a treat for those interested in the outer limits.

In an inspired pairing, Kaiser joins B.C. pianist extraordinaire Paul Plimley.  As an added bonus, and this disc is significantly better as a result, Plimley and Kaiser are complimented by Danielle DeGruttola on cello.  She is the least known player here, but her contributions are uniformly excellent; she seems to inspire Kaiser and Plimley to their most intense passages.

There is an understated beauty to this entire affair, like a flower opening up ever so slowly towards the sun.  There are also moments when either Henry and/or Paul drop these small firecrackers of fractured notes to balance the extreme nature of the reflective side.  Sometimes minimal, yet still a feast for our ears.

Using electric, acoustic and bass guitars, Kaiser smears chords and bends notes to meet Plimley's clusters and flurries. On some tracks, DeGruttola's cello acts as an effective binding agent.

That music is whacked!!

Recorded by Michael Cogan at Bay Records, Berkley Ca., in October 1996 and November 1997.