Nomads is the third album of Israeli-born, Lisbon-based bass clarinetist Ziv Taubenfeld’s Full Sun sextet, and the first one on his newly-founded label, Full Sun. The album was recorded at Taubenfeld’s former hometown, at the Bimhuis club, before Taubenfeld’s nomadic move to sunnier shores of Portugal.
The Amsterdam-based lineup features Taubenfeld’s mentor, American alto sax player and clarinetist Michael Moore, Dutch trombonist Joost Buis (who plays with Taubefeld in Raoul van der Weide’s Xavier Pamplona Ensemble), double bass player Rozemarie Heggen (once The Ex member who replaced Israeli-born Omer Govreen), and drummer Onno Govaert, Taiwanese vibes player Yung-Tuan Ku, and Argentine pianist Nico Chientaroli.
This ensemble offered before compositions dedicated to jazz artists such as John Tchicai («Tchicai» on Full Sun’s debut, self-titled album, Multikulti Project, 2020), Sonny Simmons, Mal Waldron, Jemeel Moondoc, and Sunny Murray («MoonDoctor» and «Blues for Sunny» on Full Sun’s previous album, Out Of The Beast Came Honey, Clean Feed, 2022). Nomads opens with Taubenfeld’s ambitious, complex 18-minute sound poem dedication to the uncompromising free spirit of alto sax player Jimmy Lyons, «Keep Waiting», which presents the passionate, soulful, and uplifting sonic vision of Full Sun as a collective and strong-minded, creative individuals. And, indeed, Taubefled mentions that Full Sun brings joy to the world, «Especially in our times, when compassion and unity are much needed».
Full Sun keeps doing exactly that on Taubenfeld’s following three pieces, while paying respects to three more masters – Duke Ellington, Sun Ra and Misha Mengelberg. «Rozemarie’s Flying Carpet», Heggen’s masterful solo arco playing, intensifies the introspective, contemplative atmosphere of Nomads. The title piece was inspired by the polyphonic singing of the Pygmies, highlighting Full Sun’s organic, joyful, and playful dynamics, not shy of losing its way on its adventurous journey. The last piece, «Balbalus», introduced by Chientaroli, cements Full Sun’s rich and original sonic vision, with its irreverent references to the seminal Ellington, Ra, and especially the subversive, ironic ideas of Mengelberg, and its brilliant individual – Heggen again, but also Buis, Moore, and Chientaroli – and collective improvisations.
Looking forward to many more releases from the promising Full Sun Records.
Eyal Hareuveni
Ziv Taubenfeld (bass clarinet, gongs), Michael Moore (alto saxophone, clarinet), Joost Buis (trombone, percussion), Yung-Tuan Ku (vibraphone, percussion), Nico Chientaroli (piano, objects), Rozemarie Heggen (double bass), Onno Govaert (drums, percussion)
