190387-gebhard-ullman-basement-research-hat-and-shoes

Gebhard Ullmann Basement Research: Hat and Shoes

Pinning down Gebhard Ullmann is like trying to have a clean basement -- possible, but damn difficult.
Gebhard Ullmann Basement Research
Hat and Shoes
Between the Lines
2015-02-10

Gebhard Ullmann, one of modern jazz’s most vital moving target of 30 years, has retreated to the basement again with some dangerously like-minded musicians. This time Basement Research includes Ullmann on tenor sax and clarinet, Steve Swell on trombone, Julian Argüelles on baritone sax, Pascal Niggenkemper on bass and Gerald Cleaver on drums. To call their sound hard and boppy would be like saying that rain is wet. This is an ensemble going for broke so gloriously blindly that they probably aren’t even aware of it half the time. “Wo bitte geht’s zu den Hackeschen Höfen?” could out-punk a punk band, “Trinidad Walk” can hold its own up against ’60s-era Coleman and “Don’t Touch My Music” skronks just like downtown. Gebhard Ullmann is one of those musicians who has the remarkable ability to be baking multiple pies while never serving up a sub-par one. A hearty slice of Basement Research is remains recommended to those who want their have their jazz free but eat the compositions too.

RATING 8 / 10