Anne Lebaron

In jazz or any other kind of music, LeBaron is a harpist whose music is unique. She is an avant-garde composer, firmly entrenched in new music. Her pieces can either be very long and developmental or short and concise. Both aspects are featured here, using natural harp sounds, at times in tandem with live electronics. Trumpeter Frank London, tuba player Marcus Rojas, electric guitarist Davey Williams, and percussionist Gregg Bendian complement LeBaron's sometimes-free improvised music stance, which has an arresting ebb and flow. On the longer compositions, LeBaron uses a wide variety of tonal, atonal, and stylistic devices. "Bouquet of a Phantom Orchestra" starts with the harp, evoking oriental and African kora sounds, with waves of percussion and skittering guitar leading to a march/tango rhythm that serves as a springboard for Williams' move to rockish chords, LeBaron's beautifully glissandoed lines, London's comedic wah-wah trumpet, and siren-song singing. "Superstrings & Curved Space" is 14 minutes of endless changes, with Rojas' tuba ostinato establishing a framework for Williams' chattery, clattering guitar. Then LeBaron launches into a series of repetitive phrases, prompting Williams to wail searingly. Finally, a tuba-harp unison quickens the pace, faster and faster until frenetic. "Top Hat on a Locomotive" is masterful, starting with Far Eastern motifs of harp and percussion and ending with Bendian's busy percussion. An implied swing to "Bottom Wash" is loaded with improvisational interplay and the sawing, soaring, seething guitar of the ever-present Williams. LeBaron's only getting started, but from the look of things, she's on to something very special. Recommended, but only for those willing to challenge standard listening parameters. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide