Label: New Focus Recordings, 2021

Personnel - Susie Ibarra: drumset, gongs, percussion; Alex Peh: piano; Claire Chase: piccolo, flute, bass flute.

The immensely talented drummer/composer Susie Ibarra makes use of her distinctive signature storytelling in a fascinating commissioned work whose chapters take form in different groupings - solo, duet and trio. Teaming up with the classical-trained pianist Alex Peh and the MacArthur-fellow flutist Claire Chase, Ibarra, whose past collaborators include Derek Bailey, William Parker, Wadada Leo Smith and John Zorn, shows a penchant for world sounds inspired by her Filipino heritage, which she formidably merges with contemporary chamber music and free improv.

Bookended by four less-than-a-minute musical snacks (“Meriendas 1-4“), the album has in the suite-like “Talking Gong” its central piece. The trio, following a part-discipline, part-freedom approach, navigates through a myriad of rhythms and ideas that follow one another with strategic coherence. It all starts with classical piano eloquence, passing through a hooky dance trance made of rocking drums and fleet-fingered piano, and then stopping by the Filipino tradition, here melodically conducted by flute. This is only the beginning... Rhythmically vibrant sections demarcate from the quieter reflections in such a way that, at a given moment you may experience eerie chiming sounds, airy flute whistles and talkative drums beefing up the texture with percussive momentum; while in another times there are pensive chordal movements, soothing gongs, melodious flute and plenty of cymbal color.

The consecutive “Paniniwala” and “Dancesteps” are piano and percussion duets boasting an incredible tonal connection within a superlative sound design. The former consolidates wide-ranging piano work with lively, kaleidoscopic percussive chatter, while the latter piece, being folksy and expressively motivic, explores ambiances that go from playful to zealous to quietly ruminative within a seven-minute ride.

“Kolubrí”, meaning hummingbird, is an opportunity to hear Ibarra playing solo and absorb the emulated sounds of agile wings flapping in the breeze and other gracious bird movements. The most abstract piece here is perhaps “Sunbird”, a multi-layered solo effort developed by Chase, who creates friction through piccolo, C flute and bass flute.

Talking Gong is an outstanding document showcasing the compositional and technical abilities of Ibarra, who, in very good company, takes this music to interesting places.

Favorite Tracks:
03 - Talking Gong ► 04 - Paniniwala ► 05 - Dancesteps