Co Streiff Sextet
Loops, Holes And Angles

By David Dacks

Rarely does an “avant-garde” jazz player address the challenges of West and South African structures with such a clear emphasis on groove. Swiss saxophonist Streiff’s background ranges from a stint in the circus to travels in Sahara, and she brings a focused eclecticism to this pulsating disc. Keyboardist Ben Jeger is, within a jazz context, a very imaginative keyboardist; his clavinet and farfisa playing are not traditional jazz keys by a long shot, ensuring that the groove is never far away. Streiff alternates between soprano and alto, sharing duties with Tommy Meier. The first piece, “Loops Holes and Angles,” starts off all Dolphy-like before moving into a lurching 3/4 swing, which recalls Mingus without the badass attitude. A cover of one of Frederic Galliano’s Malian divas, Nahawa Doumbia, percolates but doesn’t entirely reach the polyrhythmic lockstep of Malian folk, although its spirit is within this music. There are all kinds of moods on this disc, from the ’60s era Central European jazz of “Batak” to the noir freedom of “Die Brucke.” The highlight for me is “Chtau,” where Jeger channels early Fela to get to the best groove on this record. (Intakt) (Intakt)

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