SORBD is a new pan-European, Berlin-based and all-female quintet coming from the city’s fertile free improvised music and the free jazz scenes and already distinguished itself with a strong and highly creative vision. It features German clarinetist Edith Steyer, Japanese pianist Rieko Okuda, German double bass player Isabel Rößler (who in a few performances of SORBD was replaced by French double bass player Marion Ruault), Portuguese drummer-percussionist Sofia Borges and Danish alto sax player Mia Dyberg. Okuda recorded before two duo albums with Dyberg, Nigatsu 二月 and Naboer, released by Dyberg in 2019 and 2020. Borges collaborated before with Dyberg and Okuda in the Red List Ensemble (Scope, Creative Sources, 2020) and recorded with Steyer in the Pink Mondas quartet (Multiple visions of the Now, 4DaRecord, 2023).
Wild Peacock In Transit is the debut album of this quintet and it was recorded at Kühlspot Social Club in Berlin in November 2022. It offers nine pieces, five pieces are compositions, one by each musician and the other four pieces are credited to SORBD. The opening piece, «Liquid Tiles», by Borges already informs the far-reaching sonic vision of this quintet as it introduces contemporary concepts into its collective improvisation while highlighting the distinct languages of the five musicians, and, obviously, the driving rhythmic force of Borges. Dyberg’s «Love Story Between Fast And Slow Motion» is an enigmatic piece that revolves on the subtle playing of Dyberg and Steyer, both using extended breathing techniques. Steyer’s «Pfaueninsel – Peacock Island» transforms a playful post-bop theme into an abstract texture. Rößler’s «Graphic Ballad» is a minimalist and quiet chamber piece that demands full attention to every mysterious, deep-toned nuance. Okuda’s «Pen – Pong» is structured as a surprising game that encourages eccentric gestures from all.
The quintet pieces suggest different constellations and challenging, conceptual composition sketches, all solidifying a deep interactive playfulness and stress SORBD’s surprising moments of seductive and sensual sound images and sometimes even brief, joyful and intense ones (the “Ende Gelände” (End of story, nothing to add) pieces).
Wild Peacock In Transit is an impressive and promising album by an ambitious quintet of gifted and resourceful composers and improvisers.
Eyal Hareuveni
Edith Steyer (Bb clarinet), Mia Dyberg (alto saxophone), Rieko Okuda (piano), Isabel Rößler (double bass), Sofia Borges (drums, percussion)
