Ab & Terrie: Hef CD

An equal balance among all players provides a guiding principle for freely improvised music. Hef presents engineer Colin McClean the challenge of balancing electric and acoustic instruments. The recording presents a strong contrast between the sharp transients of Terrie Ex's electric guitar and the subtler attack of Ab Baars's tenor saxophone and clarinet. The contrast in sonic properties parallels the contrast in the players' styles - Terrie plays in the art- punk band the Ex, while Baars works with such avant- jazz groups as Misha Mengelberg's ICP Orchestra. Hef presents a huge range of interactions between these collaborators, from quiet and almost ambient work to very aggressive rock playing. It provides a great example of a freely improvised collaboration between players of different idiomatic backgrounds. (Terp Records/P. O. Box 635/1000 AP Amsterdam/Holland)