hoox and add-ons cs574

[…] Expanding the reed palate with preparations, German alto saxophonist/clarinetist Edith Steyer, who has played with the likes of Jean-Marc Foussat and Michael Griener among many others, still doesn’t overuse the additions throughout the CD’s 14 selections. However certain tracks are dedicated to expressive experimentation. “Swarms” for example, alternates among buzzing Bronx cheers, dog-whistle-like shrills and low-pitched cuckoo-clock-like resonations. “Announcement” is even more strident with ear-splitting reed variations rubbing against further low-pitches; and “Ebony and Raspberry” highlighting spetrofluctuation alongside narrowing timbres and double-tonguing. Yet even as atonal a narrative as “The Cyclist” includes a mellow exposition alongside trills wrenched from the body tube and key percussion. Similarly the key percussion that ends “Diesels Complaint (Before Its Driving Ban” and the tongue slaps that begin it may aim towards dissonance, but even as Steyer squeals up and down the scale a moderato narrative can be heard as well. Other tracks encompass tonal patterns and melodies as well. For instance the chalumeau echoes emanating from her clarinet on “Under a Skin” may be sharp, but the woody tones finally revealed include a warm, jocular theme as they unroll. […] Ken Waxman (JazzWord)