HARDCELL (BERNE + TABORN + RAINEY) — Electric And Acoustic Hard Cell Live (review)

HARDCELL (BERNE + TABORN + RAINEY) — Electric And Acoustic Hard Cell Live album cover Live album · 2004 · Avant-Garde Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
snobb
Some years ago sax player Tim Berne started recording for German ECM label and his music received much wider distribution (and some additional glances for working with one of the most prestigious jazz labels ever). He already had a chance to be contracted by major labels in the States in the mid-late 80s, but the few albums he released didn't satisfy Columbia's people, so Tim returned back to the half-underground scenes in New York, having a cult following from fans of "New York new avant-gard jazz", whatever it was.

For those knowing Berne from most current ECM works he most probably associates with well-composed modern complex jazz, perfectly played but a bit too chamber (or not raw enough - you choose). Then a journey to Berne's 90s and 00s recordings (mostly on tiny labels or his own Screwgun) can offer plenty of pleasant surprises. "Electric And Acoustic Hard Cell Live" is a good example and there are some more with no doubt.

Hard Cell was a short-lived super-trio of sorts uniting Tim Berne with his regular keyboardist Craig Taborn and Californian drummer Tom Rainey. Just two albums have been recorded, both live (both released on Berne's own Screwgun label). Four tracks (lasting between 7 and 16 minutes each) are raw, muscular tuneful and surprisingly post-bop influenced. Recorded during two different gigs, the material presented is of quite good sound quality and contains a lot of audience emotional evidences, all for good.

Two tracks sound like an audience recording, but as on some better bootlegs, this fact even adds more blood and adrenaline into the music and common atmosphere. There are no traces of Berne's later chamber sobriety to be found here and Craig's use of electronics only adds effect of modernity. Being energetic, music here sounds far from some noisy free jazz chaos clichés, it is melodic and combines improvisations with well composed material.

This is one of Berne's better recordings which can be recommended for his more current fans - most probably you will find a lot of things you will like here.
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