Valentin Clastrier – hurdy-gurdy (France)
Steven Kamperman – clarinet (Netherlands)
Valentin Clastrier is perhaps best called the godfather of modern hurdy-gurdy. Over the years he transformed the originally medieval instrument into an electro-acoustical musical vehicle of buzzing magnificence: orchestral in scope, with innovative tonal possibilities utilising treated sounds and chromatic melodies which he displays to astounding effect in his collaboration with global-modal-jazz-crossover clarinettist, composer and arch-improviser from the Netherlands, Steven Kamperman.
Dutch clarinetist Steven Kamperman teamed up with French ‘living legend’ Valentin Clastrier, generally regarded as the inventor of the modern hurdy-gurdy. The result is an unusual and spectacular duo: think of angular chromatic melodies and shamanistic bass waves, blending with intense improvisations. ‘Little can prepare you for the range of ideas and the extraordinary sound palettes they extract out of a pair of instruments,’ reviewed fRoots (five-star album).
The duo’s album, Fabuloseries, a set of tone-poems of symphonic sweep, had multiple reviewers thumbing their thesaurus for fresh ways of describing their “extraordinary sound palettes”, “remarkable imagination” and “unprecedented inventiveness”.
Review
fRoots, 5 star Album Choice, december 2016
“Little will prepare you for the range of ideas and settings that two clearly rampant imaginations can let loose, or the quite extraordinary sound palettes they extract out of a pair of instruments, a studio and some remarkable inspiration.” fRoots, Ian Anderson
“Ce duo est un orchestre, par moment acoustique, souvent électrique, rockisant, voire carrément punk, jazz aussi quand on y perçoit un brin de la folie de Roland Kirk, à moins que ce ne soit une touche d’hermétisme contemporain, ou l’emballement d’une fanfare.” Jazz’Halo Jean-Pierre Goffin
“This duo is in fact an orchestra, sometimes acoustic, often electrified, rocking, even downright punky, jazz also when one perceives a glimpse of the madness of Roland Kirk, but also some hermetic contemporary music, and even the vibe of a wind orchestra” Jazz’Halo Jean-Pierre Goffin
“Fabuloseries is an incredibly powerful CD; because of the mastery of the musicians, because of the unheard of sounds, because of the musical togetherness of these two musicians. But most of all because of their courage and ability to continuously find new turns, without ever loosing the special groove of this record. Considering its many influences, it’s kind of ridiculous to label this music with one style. It’s breathtakingly exciting and excellent music, even more remarkable considering the small and unusual instrumentation.” Trouw****, Micha Andriessen
“Breathtaking album” His Voice, Jan Hocek
