(Free Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Big Band) [WEB] Bathysphere (Jorrit Dijkstra & Pandelis Karayorgis w/ Tony Malaby, Charlie Kohlhase, Taylor Ho Bynum, Jeb Bishop, Nate McBride, Luther Gray) - Bathysphere - 2015, FLAC (tracks), lossless

Recorded at Wellspring Sound Studio, Acton, MA on July 21, 2015 by Eric Kilburn. Mixing and editing by Nick Lloyd at Firehouse 12, New Haven, CT. Mastering by Myles Boisen at Headless Buddha Mastering Lab, Oakland, CA. Cover art by Else Bostelmann, National Geographic ©1934. Photo by Julie Mallozzi. Graphic design by Hidde Dijkstra.
Bathysphere (Greek words βαθύς (bathus), “deep" and σφαῖρα (sphaira), "sphere") is a large ensemble project that brings together improvisers from the Boston community—as well as out-of-town guests Jeb Bishop, Tony Malaby, and Taylor Ho Bynum, who joined us for this recording. The group’s name comes from the deep-sea submersible in which scientists William Beebe and Otis Barton set diving records in 1934. Our own explorations take place within a fifteen-member ensemble that includes two analog synthesizers and an abundance of deep pitches: two basses, two trombones, tuba, and baritone sax. The pieces were composed with the individual musicians in mind and their contributions during the rehearsal process were crucial. - Pandelis Karayorgis and Jorrit Dijkstra, September 2015
In the spring of 2015 Karayorgis and Dijkstra put together a large ensemble of Boston musicians to explore writing for an extended group. Out-of-town guests Jeb Bishop, Tony Malaby, and Taylor Ho Bynum were added for this recording. The name Bathysphere comes from the deep-sea submersible in which scientists William Beebe and Otis Barton set diving records in 1934. The composers’ explorations highlight the two analog synthesizers and the abundance of deep pitches in the group: two basses, two trombones, tuba, lyricon and baritone sax. The pieces were composed with the individual musicians in mind and their contributions during the rehearsal process were crucial. The CD cover is a print for a 1934 article of National Geographic Magazine covering the Bathysphere’s descent into unknown territories of the deep ocean.
Karayorgis’s “Sounding Line” and “Chip Log” take their names from nautical instruments. Each piece features different collective ensemble-writing techniques –layered melodic lines and overlapping block sections, respectively– to create thick background textures and interludes for open improvisations. “Sounding Line” features blocks of improvisers, and solos by Pandelis Karayorgis, Jeb Bishop and Dan Rosenthal. “Chip Log” features Charlie Kohlhase and Josiah Reibstein. Bathychord (Greek for “deep string,” or the double bass) is a long-form piece featuring the basses in an extended opening duet, a trombone solo by Jeff Galindo, and an alto solo by Jorrit Dijkstra. “White Sea” refers to the Turkish and Arabic name for the frothy Mediterranean. The journey takes the listener by two “island themes” that appear fleetingly through a “fog” of 12-tone row based textures.
Dijkstra’s composition “Boter” (Dutch for butter) is a quirky homage to trombonist Quentin “Butter” Jackson, who was part of the deep end of Duke Ellington’s band. The piece features Tony Malaby as a kind of updated Paul Gonsalves. In the introduction of “Funnel,” the ensemble traverses through its full dynamic and instrumental range, funneling into a unison on middle C. The melody is enhanced by orchestrated snippets of the rest of the ensemble, and the improvisation resembles the dark, unknown abyss of the deep ocean. “Coelacanth” (a prehistoric deep-sea fish) is a free blowing vehicle, with solos by Dijkstra, Seth Meicht, and Forbes Graham, culminating in a powerful drum solo by Luther Gray. - karayorgis.com

Jorrit Dijkstra | alto saxophone, lyricon, analog synth
Pandelis Karayorgis | piano
Tony Malaby | soprano and tenor saxophones
Seth Meicht | alto and tenor saxophones
Charlie Kohlhase | tenor and baritone saxophones
Taylor Ho Bynum | cornet
Forbes Graham | trumpet
Daniel Rosenthal | trumpet
Jeb Bishop | trombone
Jeff Galindo | trombone
Josiah Reibstein | tuba
Nate McBride | bass
Jef Charland | bass
Luther Gray | drums
Andrew Neumann | analog electronics