Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Glod / Ramond / Kugel: No ToXiC

19

Glod / Ramond / Kugel: No ToXiC

By

Sign in to view read count
Glod / Ramond / Kugel: No ToXiC
The collaborative marvel that is No ToXiC, hatched in the fertile grounds of NEMU Records, is less an album and more of a dare—a sonic gauntlet thrown at the feet of free jazz and improvisation. Roby Glod (who flirts with both alto and soprano saxophones), double bassist Christian Ramond and drummer Klaus Kugel take us on a journey that laughs in the face of convention.

Right out of the gate, "Unconscious Superglitzer" demands attention, not politely but like a post-bop blitzkrieg. Glod's sax serenades fervently, while Kugel's percussive antics provide a rhythmically complex backdrop. Following this, "Carol's Dream," a nod to Connie Crothers' compositional smarts, highlights Ramond's double bass as it steps into the spotlight, providing a robust canvas for Glod's temperate sax work, painting broad expressive strokes. The synergy here is not just musical, it is telepathic.

Diving into the diverse emotional palette of the album, "Bottlefish" emerges as a whimsically brief escapade, serving up Glod's sax phrases like hors d'oeuvres at a musical banquet. In stark contrast, "Basalte" plunges into somber depths, with Ramond's bass painting shadows so thick one might worry about what is lurking within.

The pièce de résistance, "No ToXiC," is where Glod's sax weaves a web so intricate that spiders could take notes. Kugel's percussion injects a sense of urgency, while Ramond's bass underpins the expedition. This track is not just music, it is a high-speed chase down the rabbit hole of virtuosity and collaboration.

The auditory delight is matched only by its visual counterpart—the album artwork by Andrea Silbermann, which could be described as the visual equivalent of jazz improvisation; abstract, intriguing and impossible to ignore.

Glod, Ramond and Kugel are not just playing their instruments, they are orchestrating a rebellion. This outing does not just invite us to listen—it dares us to experience it. Whether one is a seasoned jazz connoisseur or a neophyte eager to explore, No ToXiC promises a journey through soundscapes that are as bewildering as they are beautiful.

Track Listing

Unconscious Superglitzer; Carol’s Dream; Se Chussa De Re; Solution After The Storm; Hot Rot Hi-Beck; Bottlefish; Unconscious Second Turn; Basalte; Subconscious Triptychon; Freggs!; Forgotten Dream; No ToXiC; Vortex Hunter; Jour Fruit.

Personnel

Album information

Title: No ToXiC | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: NEMU Records


Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Slow Water
Stephan Crump
Contrafactus
Spike Wilner Trio
Psychedelic Rio
Vinicius Cantuaria

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.