Archival Ensembles
Equilibrium
Fitness Landscapes
Excerpt from Bruce Lee Gallanter Review
“… This disc consists of two long pieces, the first of which features just the trio of Pek, Coleman and Nakatani. It was recorded live at Mass Art In Boston in September of 1999. I dig the way the trio take their time and improvise, quietly at first, slowly getting to know each other as they evolve together. At nearly 40 minutes long, it is like a long story unfolding, paced just right never too busy or too intense but always interesting.…”
Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Liner Notes by PEK
Equilibrium had a single performance at Mass Art. The show was meant to be a double bill with Charlie Kohlhase / Matt Langley Sax Duet and Leap of Faith. Glynis and I had seen Tatsuya Nakatani play with James Coleman and we invited them to do this performance with us. At the last second, Glynis wasn’t able to make the show. Charlie and Matt did their set, then I played a trio with Tatsuya and James, and then we had a quintet with the members of both ensembles. This was a very exciting performance for me – James’ Theremin and Tatsuya’s bowed cymbals created an alien ethereal environment which was new to me. Leap of Faith did play with Tatsuya a few more times before he left Boston, and James was later a regular member of Leap of faith for a year or two in 1999 and 2000.
Fitness Landscapes:
Equilibrium
Mass College of Art, Boston MA – 29 September 1999
1) Fitness Landscapes ‐ 38:47
2) Phase Space ‐ 22:57
PEK – clarinets, saxophones, bassoon (1‐2)
James Coleman – theremin (1‐2)
Tatsuya Nakatani – percussion (1‐2)
Charlie Kohlhase – bari sax (2)
Matt Langley – tenor sax (2)
Bruce Lee Gallanter Review
EQUILIBRIUM [With PEK/JAMES COLEMAN/TATSUYA NAKATANI + CHARLIE KOHLHASE /MATT LANGLEY] – Fitness Landscapes (Evil Clown; USA) Featuring Pek on saxes, clarinet & bassoon, James Coleman on Theremin, Tatsuya Nakatani on percussion plus added on one long track: Charlie Kohlhase & Matt Langley on saxes. Equilibrium is another of Dave Peck’s (aka Pek) projects. Equilibrium consists of Pek, James Coleman on theremin (who has worked with Bhob Rainey & Greg Kelley) and percussion wiz Tatsuya Nakatani (one of my fave players, who has worked with Dr. Chadbourne, Mary Halvorson and Billy Bang). Both guest saxists here, Charlie Kohlhase & Matt Langely, are Boston-based and have recorded together on more than a half dozen discs. This is the one disc by Mr. Peck and his cohorts that has all familiar names on board. This disc consists of two long pieces, the first of which features just the trio of Pek, Coleman and Nakatani. It was recorded live at Mass Art In Boston in September of 1999. I dig the way the trio take their time and improvise, quietly at first, slowly getting to know each other as they evolve together. At nearly 40 minutes long, it is like a long story unfolding, paced just right never too busy or too intense but always interesting. The second piece is called “Phase Space” and it features three reeds, Theremin & percussion. This piece again takes it time but lets all three reeds work together in strong and spirited ways, building, criss-crossing with sections of free/jazz frenetics. Again, the balance, recording and pace is careful and well-handled. Often Mr. Nakatani’s unique approach to percussion (bowed gongs, etc.) and Theremin are in similar timbral terrain. More great music form points little known.
Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
