Lichtblick

Stockhausen, Comisso, Thomé

Lichtblick

prima, altrove ...

Resounding clarity floods the soundstage on as Stockhausen's brass instruments produce full bodied, bell shaped tones of authority. The trumpeter/flugelhornist constructs pensive, brooding improvisations of acoustically pure sound, causing the music to swell to huge proportions as it commandeers the aural senses. On this innovative coalition with pianist Comisso and drummer Thomé, the session springs off structural guideposts to soar to ultra-high altitudes. The performance has spatial qualities enhanced through Comisso's discreet use of synthesizer as a supplement to his more prevalent and always powerful acoustic piano work. The output of the trio vibrates dynamically as it deeply permeates the atmosphere; Thomé uses a sensitive touch to place percussive accents in the right spot, Comisso turns introspection into a dominant trait by developing volumes of forceful scenarios, and Stockhausen paints flowing kaleidoscopic landscapes to bring this living portrait to fruition.

The material for this engrossing excursion is the compositional product of all three musicians, either individually or collectively. While written frameworks form the foundation for the music, Stockhausen and the trio leave those boundaries to explore alternate creative opportunities at every turn. They continuously relate to each other's thought processes, turning the tunes into cohesively solid pieces without sacrificing the element of adventure and surprise. Mostly, however, the session identifies with ringing tonality, interactive conversations, and an element of Old World charm wrapped in modern-day originality. Stockhausen, Comisso, and Thomé have combined classical new-music theory with spontaneous execution to allow their music to breathe openly and freely as an original product of their enterprising minds.

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