Serious Fun

Just two trombonists -- Germans Nils Wogram and Konrad Bauer -- alone, for sixteen wondrous free improvisations. The coupling might be considered odd, particularly considering the difference in styles. The much younger Wogram carved a career as a well-respected post-bop performer, while Bauer has been one of the best kept secrets of the avant-garde intelligentsia, having delivered utterly inconceivable creations from his East German bastion for years preceding (and after) the fall of the Wall. This recording is clearly on Bauer's turf, as there is no melody, but only the instant creations of two surprisingly compatible players. The sixteen tracks explore a range of territory, from quietly held tones to passionately intense squeals. Along the way, there is joy, sadness, ecstasy, and tranquility, but the moods change so often that interest never wanes. A bold endeavor, this recording shows the potential diversity of sounds that can be produced from two bones, and should delight trombonists of all genres as well as those who regale in something new and challenging.