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Cargo Cult
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I first encountered and recorded Tomas Ulrich (b.1958, Columbus, OH) in 1996, as part of the Mark Whitecage Quartet. Since then I have produced over a dozen sessions with him. Over those years he has never failed to excite my ears and mind nor give less than 99% (one assumes 100% is hyperbole). From almost the beginning of our acquaintance I was waiting for Tomas to propose his own CIMP session, but he never did. Around 2002, when I finally suggested he consider doing so, he demurred and gave me the impression he didn’t really believe he was on a par with many of the magnificent people alongside whom he had recorded. Tomas comes out of a Classical background and in the beginning I often felt that his approach to creative improvised music was more instinctual than drawn from some comfortably formulated understanding of the genre. (But if so—what great instincts he has!) And if he worked as hard or harder than anyone in the group, perhaps he felt he had to compensate lest he be found out. He is a modest, almost shy man and as my entreaties continued from session to session, the most commital response I got was a suggestion that he was thinking about it but was not ready yet, and such. In February 2007, Tomas called and with uncharacteristic forwardness said, “Bob, I think I’ve found the group.” Enthused, I asked who was in it. He gave me the names Rolf Sturm (b. 1962, Lewisburg, PA) and Mike Bisio (b. 1955, Troy, NY). Bass, cello, and guitar, eh? Doesn’t really grab me, I thought, but I encouraged Tomas to send a demo. Tomas did so—a live recording from Feb. 4, 2007 —and I was astonished at its boldness, blend, and sensitivity. So much so that we issued it on Cadence Jazz Records (#1214). Mike and Tomas have worked together for a couple of years and collaborated on a duo session (CIMP 349) in the Spring of 2006. Rolf Sturm, one of the most eclectic musicians around, is a former student of John Abercrombie, Joe Pass, Jim Hall, and Bill Frisell. He has played in a broad genre of settings ranging from Eddy Arnold and Pat Boone to Dave Douglas and John Zorn and, like Tomas, has recorded with Joe Gallant, Walter Thompson, Ellen Christi, and Zorn; Rolf and Tomas began playing duos with each other in 1982. Rolf has led a number of sessions on the Water Street Music label. So here we have a trio with far ranging chops, majoring in music with a concentration on improvisation. We started sound checks in the late afternoon, taking about an hour to fine-tune the balance and placement of strings. Musically the check ranged from the hard-edged dynamics that I expected to lovely lyrical acoustic string music. After supper we moved into The Spirit Room where Tomas said he wanted to open with a brief Free piece (The Awakening), I think to musically prime himself. Following this, Mike counted off his own Pabio (originally recorded in 1983 for Mike’s first release [C.T. Records]), a performance-captivating Blues with nice pizzicato solo from Tomas succeeded by a scene-stealing worry from Rolf’s electric guitar which settled a mood and was a natural segue into Mike’s solo. Quickly it became apparent to me that what this group had was not just the ability to play the notes but to feel them and project that feeling, both individually and as a group. Tomas’ best playing always suggests juxtaposition and tension, Mike’s bass likewise digs deep in feeling and thought, and Rolf is the perfect complement and color to this combination (he stunned me with his hip musicality throughout the date). This power-soul trio plays hypnotically beautiful music. We ended the date around noon the next day with Michael’s AM. I asked Michael if he had written it specifically for this group. He said no, he had written it in 1985 for the birth of his son. Maybe this piece, like Tomas, has also found the right group. I know, for me, everything was/is right in this group. What a gift it is to have people such as this come in and enrich and affect your life for a couple of days. I can’t deliver to you the pleasure of their company but here are some of the pleasures of their spirit. Enjoy the music in the spirit in which it was offered. -Robert D. Rusch - Jan. 18, 2008
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ARTISTS
Tomas Ulrich (cello); Rolf Sturn (guitar); Michael Bisio (bass) |
TRACKS
1. Pabio
2. Blue Mood
3. Oliva Grace
4. The Unlearned Lesson
5. Beautiful Love
6. The Awakening
7. Open to Suggestion
8. Charles Too!
9. Can't Get There From Here
10. AM
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