Sub Unit No. 1
Main Sequence
Excerpt from Bruce Lee Gallanter Review
“… What is interesting about Mr. Knoblach is that he plays a wide variety of percussive instruments, toys and oddities, many of which are not normally used as percussion. Just reading the names of these devices makes me smile as someone who also plays the odd percussion like hubcaps & assorted metals. For those of us that can appreciate a wealth of percussion sounds, this disc displays quite a bit of sonic nuance, especially if we listen closely. …”
Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
A new sub-unit of the Leap of Faith Orchestra showcases the work of David Peck (PEK) on clarinets, saxophones, and a wide array of percussive devices, in a duo with new drummer Michael Knoblach, also on an assortment of percussive devices including antique sheep shears, African circumcision rattles, dan mo, &c, for 5 unique improvisations recorded in the studio.
Squidco Staff
Excerpt From Liner Notes by PEK
“… A very different percussion/horn vibe than other’s Evil Clown offerings…. Michael plays his unusual percussion instruments at a very moderate volume. I have a lot of vocabulary for low volume sound, which is typically used in select portions of an improvisation. Here Michael and I use that dynamic throughout…. mostly mp or quieter… with one frame drum/bass sax duet about mf… It’s a very busy week here at Evil Clown,,, 2 LIVESTREAMING sessions, a gig on Saturday at Outpost 186, and a grueling day trip to NYC for my day job……”
Main Sequence:
Sub-Unit No. 1 (Expanse)
Evil Clown Headquarters, Waltham MA – 10 February 2020
1) Natal Clouds – 19:40
2) Core – 4:32
3) Gas & Dust – 15:28
4) Main Sequence – 5:13
5) Life Cycle – 18:10
PEK – clarinet & contrabass clarinet, alto, tenor & bass saxophones, guanzi, contrabassoon, sheng, melodica, game calls, gongs, brontosaurus & tank bells, rattles, crotales, wind siren, wood blocks, balafon, orchestral chimes, glockenspiel
Michael Knoblach – frame drum, vintage gypsy tambourine, basket of rocks, dan mo, water filled mason jar, vintage billiards triangle, abacuses, gong, temple blocks, antique sheep shears, antique glass leg rest furniture carpet protectors, African circumcision rattles, Spooky World noise makers, LP udder, sistrum, vintage fisher price bumble bee, Asian palm frond rattles, assorted other percussion
Bandcamp | Squidco | YouTube | Soundcloud
Bruce Lee Gallanter Review
SUB-UNIT NO. 1 with PEK / MICHAEL KNOBLACH – Main Sequence (Evil Clown 9235; USA) Featuring PEK on clarinets, saxes, guanzi, contrabassoon, melodica, games calls & loads of percussion and Michael Knoblach on frame drum, tambourine, gong, rattles, sistrum, assorted odd percussion too lengthy to mention. One of the great things about Leap of Faith founder, Dave PEK, is his ability to find all sorts of kindred spirits, Creative Musicians, from the Boston area. Out of the perhaps 50 different musicians that Mr. PEK has chosen to play in the many different versions of Leap of Faith and assorted offshoot bands, I have only heard of a handful previously. One of the numerous offshoot projects is called Sub-Unit and as many as four have opened for the Leap of Faith Orchestra gigs. Hence, this disc features a new Sub-Unit, just a duo with PEK and a percussionist named Michael Knoblach. I had never heard of Mr. Knoblach before now but I did find a fascinating duo set with him & Bill T. Miller on YouTube which you can check out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQwFxFd7d5U
What is interesting about Mr. Knoblach is that he plays a wide variety of percussive instruments, toys and oddities, many of which are not normally used as percussion. Just reading the names of these devices makes me smile as someone who also plays the odd percussion like hubcaps & assorted metals. For those of us that can appreciate a wealth of percussion sounds, this disc displays quite a bit of sonic nuance, especially if we listen closely. As with most Evil Clown discs, PEK usually works with one instrument at a time, exploring each one: contrabass clarinet, bass sax, melodica, assorted percussion, double reeds and more. I played most of this disc with headphones which made it easier to hear the variety of sounds, especially the infinite variety of percussion which was used throughout. Much of this is close mic’d, adding even more nuance to subtle sounds. 63 minutes long and consistently engaging as long you are patient
Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Liner Notes by PEK
The Evil Clown Empire is comprised of the Leap of Faith Orchestra and its core unit, Leap of Faith, along with a number of other ensembles that feature different cross-sections of the Orchestra: Turbulence features the horn players, String Theory features the String Players, Metal Chaos Ensemble features percussion and electronics, PEK Solo features my own playing, etc. The individual bands do not have a fixed set of players, but instead have a central idea which focuses the palate of sounds available. One of the projects (now dormant while I find a venue to replace Third Life Studios), Leap of Faith Orchestra & Sub-Units, features short improvisation by sections from the orchestra followed by an improv with everyone. So, Evil Clown performances are credited to Sub-Unit No. “X” when a small format improvisation occurs by members of the orchestra which are not assignable to one of the regular ensemble names.
Recently, when Yuri decided to withdraw from Evil Clown projects except Metal Chaos Ensemble, I started to look for new drummers who could help fill his massive Klown Shoes… Michael Knoblach was recommended by Evil Clown regular Eric Dahlman, I reached out, we talked, and his debut Evil Clown set will be this duet LIVESTREAMED from Evil Clown headquarters.
Although Michael plays the drum set, in recent years he has been focused on percussion. This duet with the Evil Clown percussion arsenal along with instruments from Michael’s huge collection available enabled wonderful new sonority. Michael plays at a quitter mean dynamic than is typical for Evil Clown ensembles. Leap of Faith, in particular, has stretches of this quieter space in nearly every improvisation, but the mean dynamic is much louder. It was very interesting to focus an entire set on my lower volume vocabulary. Michael and I both enjoyed this auspicious first set and are working more sessions into the schedule, including a Leap of Faith trio with Glynis and a trio with a second horn… Stay Tuned!
– PEK 2/12/2020
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