Jazz.pt review by José Pessoa

Igor Lumpert Trio – Innertextures Live (CF 257)
Classificação: 4,5/5
Este disco registado pela Clean Feed na edição de 2011 do Festival de Jazz de Ljubljana segue-se a uma primeira investida do projecto Innertextures de Igor Lumpert, publicada em 2001 pela Goga Music com as colaborações de Robert Glasper, Boris Kozlov, Leron Thomas, Jacob Bro e Jonathan Blake.
O jovem saxofonista e compositor Igor Lumpert nasceu em Novo Mesto, na Eslovénia. Fez a sua formação musical no Conservatório Bruckner, em Linz, na Áustria. Durante esse período tocou no grupo alemão Sidewinders, baseado em Munique. Depois, foi convidado a estudar na New School de Nova Iorque pelo contrabaixista Reggie Workman, para onde foi no Outono de 2000 com uma bolsa de estudos. Na Big Apple estudou e tocou com George Garzone, Chico Hamilton, Billy Harper e muitos outros.
A música de Lumpert representa uma fusão única de jazz, funk, ritmos do Leste europeu e esboços neo-bop. Tocou já com várias lendas do jazz, incluindo John Abercrombie, Sonny Simmons, Boris Kozlov, e Andy McKee. Neste álbum encontramo-lo na companhia de Nasheet Waits e Christopher Tordinijem. Waits é um baterista enérgico e de grande densidade, sempre procurando uma divergência com os restantes músicos, construída em torno de “loops” rítmicos e pela criação de camadas multidimensionais. Tordinijem pratica um baixo melodicamente coerente e articulado, pleno de nuances e frequente inspirador de um “groove” forte que nos faz bater o pé, ligando-se maravilhosamente à percussão de Waits.
Em duas palavras dizemos tudo o que aqui realizam: sofisticação e eficiência.
O que faz a música deste projecto tão interessante é a sua complexidade. Com o jogo e a fluidez evidenciados nestas peças, o trio transmite-nos uma ideia consequente de absorção das tradições do jazz, acrescentando algo de novo e ímpar. Esta é uma música criada democraticamente, permitindo ao ouvinte abandonar-se à fruição total ou a uma focagem clara sobre algum dos trabalhos individuais. As faixas de que mais gosto são a balanceada, mas exigente, “Still Dreamimg” e a subtil e poética “This is for Billie Holliday”.
http://www.jazz.pt/ponto-escuta/2013/04/12/igor-lumpert-trio-innertextures-live-clean-feed/

Le Son du Grisli review by Luc Bouquet

Igor Lumpert – Innertextures Live (CF 257)
De ce jazz sans tension(s) et sans émoi(s), on ne raffole pas. Parce que trop précautionneux, parce que refusant la périphérie et parce que plafonnant en des motifs monotones, l’oreille s’évade. Reconnaissons néanmoins au saxophoniste ténor slovène Igor Lumpert une délicatesse non feinte et une sensibilité idéale quand s’invite la ballade (Sea Whispers, This Is for Billie Holiday). Sans brusquerie, contrebassiste (Christhopher Tordini) et batteur (Nasheet Waits) assistent le saxophoniste dans sa quête de douce prudence. Mais sans danger, où est le salut ?
http://grisli.canalblog.com/

JazzWrap review by Stephan Moore

Igor Lumpert / Martin Kuchen

Innertextures Live (CF 257)
Trespass Trio – Bruder Beda (CF 251)
Two divergent releases from Portuguese label, Clean Feed, filled my listening over the last few days. And they are both worth checking out for different reasons.

Born in Slovenia but raised on the diverse traditions of both American and European Jazz, Igor Lumpert has a style that is both relaxed and complex. His training and performing with the likes of Reggie Workman, Buster Williams and Chico Hamilton to name a few probably has a lot to do it. But on Innertextures Live, Lumpert’s third release as leader, he begins to shape his voice, vision and destiny.

Innertextures seems to be a revolving cast of musicians that each delicately and diversely interprets Lumpert’s richly molded compositions. This approach reminds me of a less cerebral approach to Chicago Underground, led by Rob Manzrek. But here, Lumpert is more concerned with taking the listener on a journey of colourful expressions and hard bop tonality.

“Still Dreaming” gets things off to delightful start. Tordini’s slow infectious bassline is wrapped tightly by the always exciting Waits kit. Lumpert throws bold and muscular notes that intersect at various points with his bandmates but shows that this live outing is going modern but with a few twist and turns. “Perug” rips along in furious succession. Tordini and Waits are giving space to create some nice, big solos with lots of creative pace. Lumpert’s fury throughout this piece felt like mid-period Coltrane.

Lumpert shows great skill and beauty on “This Is For Billy Holiday.” A lovely ballad with poise and passion. It’s heavy and introspective but filled with Lumpert taking a delicate and exact approach. This piece really shows the diversity in his performance and compositions on Innertextures Live.

Remaining introspective but moving almost completely in the opposite direction, Swedish reedman, Martin Kuchen returns with a set from his Trespass Trio. Molded and wrapped in more layers than the previous two sessions with this trio, Kuchen explores more personal family history (which he has done in recent years). This time about his relative who was a World War I Jewish German veteran who later became a Monk. A passionate and intense celebration can be felt throughout the trio debut, Bruder Beda (named for the relative).

There is a deep sense of solitude from the piece “Don’t Ruin Me.” Per Zanusi and Raymond Strid provide a Jewish heritage backdrop with their steady notes and rhythm. This allows Kuchen to stretch and create a dialogue that tells the story smoothly but with thick texture. “Todays Better Than Tomorrow” feels like a suite. The opening movement is a rich cavalcade of emotions led by Kuchen. This moves effortlessly into quiet, atmospheric tones which Strid does a good majority of the improvising. The final movement sees the trio rejoining its original themes with a harder edge and then gently taking the listener downward to fade out.

The blistering “A Different Koko” and the third outtake of “Ein Krieg In Einem Kind” both present Kuchen’s ability to scale the heights of free form expression but also still maintain a sense of inner depth. That density is something even the non-familiar Kuchen listener can be drawn to. Kuchen’s lyricism envelops you by the end of this emotional journey. Very exciting work.

Igor Lumpert’s Innertextures Live is a wonderful work of romanticism and hard bop that is slightly not what you expect from the avant garde jazz label. Marting Kuchen again shows that he is one of the talented and well-sought after musicians on the European scene with Bruder Beda. With two ends of the spectrum represented – one with a modern approach, the other more spiritual and thought-provoking. You would do well to experience both of these great saxophonists. Highly Recommended and richly enjoyable.
http://jazzwrap.blogspot.pt/

Gapplegate Music review by Grego Edwards

Igor Lumpert Trio – Innertextures Live (CF 257)
Igor Lumpert’s well-conceived tenor improvisations, Christhopher Tordini’s virtuoso bass anchorage and Nasheet Wait’s fire-y and accomplished drum statements are on full display for their live at the 52nd Ljubljana Jazz Festival set in 2011, recorded and released as Innertextures Live (Clean Feed 257).   It’s first-rate post-bop, seven Lumpert blowing vehicles that give the set a very contemporary slant. The three are most definitely inspired to do their best, a swinging, forward lurching six-legged improvisational creature of delight.   Tordini and Waits meld into classic tight-loose propulsiveness and stay there throughout. Igor lets loose with inspired improvisations that show influences as diverse as Rollins and Rivers, yet grounded in pure Lumpert.   It’s a hell of a nice go. Happy surprise! Good listening.
http://gapplegatemusicreview.blogspot.pt/

All About Jazz review by Glenn Astarita

Igor Lumpert Trio: Innertextures Live (CF 257)
Slovenia-reared tenor saxophonist Igor Lumpert hurdles and leaps onto the progressive jazz radar with his inaugural solo effort for Portugal’s highly respected and progressive record label, Clean Feed Records. This live release, featuring a prominent New York City-based rhythm section, highlights the leader’s sophisticated outgrowths via the bustling frameworks, often designed with ascending cadences, brisk bop vamps, subtle explorations and linear progressions. With all-universe drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Christopher Tordini often providing volcanic support, Lumpert gets a lot of mileage out of the core jazz trio format.

Kinetic energy amid capacious hues and shades, meld with ballsy stylizations throughout. On “Open The Safe,” Lumpert conveys a host of intricacies with odd-metered rhythmic pacing and mesmeric variances in pitch. Cohesive, yet full of split-second surprises, the artist injects cunningly deceptive tactics. The band segues into hyper-mode bop, where the saxophonist takes his time building a new theme, yielding a bit of food for thought, as Tordini tempers the flow with a searching solo and takes matters down to a near whisper. The trio closes the piece with the complex primary motif, while producing the maximum level of entertainment along the way. Indeed, Lumpert communicates guile, patience, a broad jazz vernacular and a crafty sense of the dynamic.
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=43003