Album Review: 'Hair of the Dog' by the Flip Philipp and Ed Partyka Dectet

The third release of the Flip Philipp and Ed Partyka Dectet, Hair of the Dog offers listeners a fascinating emotional curve. The first two tracks explode in furious flourishes and overwrought, tongue-in-cheek swing, snapping listeners to attention and evoking the irreverence and macabre humor that are among Partyka's specialties. By the eighth track the ensemble has settled into a laid-back, simplistic ballad based on Verdi's Rigoletto.

Along the way, listeners are exposed to a variety of improvisational and compositional approaches. Oliver Kent captures the spasmodic setting of “Minors” in the first of his piano solos, while both bandleaders remain strictly idiomatic in their opening improvisational statements, Philip delivering textbook bebop lines on vibes, Partyka smearing out blues licks on “Woman Trouble.”

Standing out soloistically is Jure Pukl, a Slovenian tenor player with lots to say on the title track, beginning quietly in front of an intimate chamber accompaniment, plowing through a duet with drum set, and finally cascading into ensemble crescendos and a revelatory key change that channel Rich Perry's work with Maria Schneider.

His statements are all thematically relevant, and his pacing is mature. Contrast this with Wolfgang Schiftner's work on “Kotzen beim Steuerberater”, which showcases the extended techniques that have earned the young Austrian a reputation in the international free jazz scene.

Working with ten instrumentalists allow composers Partyka and Philipp a more expanded harmonic and textural pallet than would a smaller combo, and exposes each musician more than a traditional big band. Taking advantage of this instrumentation requires individual virtuosity, which this ensemble possesses in spades, having drawn some of the best young talent from around Central Europe.

Hair of the Dog is concert music, and rewards active listening. Its leaders' wise framing of solos by diverse young musicians makes this album a fitting sampler platter of voices emerging in Central European jazz.

Release date:

January 1, 2010 on ATS Records

Personnel:

• Flip Philipp - Vibraphone
• Ed Partyka - Bass Trombone, Tuba
• Robert Bachner - Trombone, Euphonium
• Martin Eberle - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
• Jure Pukl - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
• Wolfgang Schiftner - Alto saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute
• Fabian Rucker - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
• Oliver Kent - Piano
• Robert Jukic - Bass
• Christian Salfellner – Drums

Track List:

1. Minors
2. Woman Trouble
3. Blue Mosque Blues
4. Hair of the Dog
5. Kotzen beim Steuerberater
6. Time
7. Better Not
8. Let it Go Ro
9. Groove Bag