European Union Quartet

M.E.N Review February 2012

The Dark Peak
(O.A.P. Records)

Manchester is cosmopolitan for its own European Union Quartet, which is to say that three members of the EUQ are exotic staples of the homegrown scene: guitarist Ulrich Elbracht (Germany), drummer Marek Dorcik (Slovakia) and native-born bassist Gavin Barras. The fourth member, saxophon- ist Iman Spaargaren, lives in Amsterdam, and is the maverick of the outfit. It’s not just geography that gives him an air of displace- ment, as he crafts lines of surprising shapes with concentrated effort, or approaches a piece from an odd tangent (Zieleroersel). These idiosyncrasies actually make things more interesting. The control and accuracy of Elbracht’s guitar, rooted in bop but with surpassing harmonic freedom, is a wonder, and Dorcik and Barras are far from conventional time- keepers. If things some- times drift – a very Euro- pean foible – they drift in unusual rhythms and with a rare tunefulness.

EUROPEAN UNION QUARTET
The Dark Peak
OAP Records

Personnel:
Iman Spaargaren (ts, ss, bcl)
Ulrich Elbracht (g)
Gavin Barras (b)
Marek Dorcik (d).

Musicians making music because that music is what matters. That could be the description of the European Union Quartet and also a hallmark of their music. This may seem like an utterly redundant and useless characterization, but listening to ‘The Dark Peak’ this is what immediately strikes me. Music made with care. Compositions that sound elegant, refined and inspired. And the ensemble playing of this quartet is balanced and equal. ‘The Dark Peak’ is a jewel, because it is a very musical record. One in which you can hear that love of music. And one with a strong narrative element. Each composition has that narrative aspect in which especially development shines through. This is a strong point of this quartet, the progression in the compositions whereby the solos don’t become isolated from the whole but, on the contrary, strengthen that whole. This is what gives the songs that strong evolving effect and that narrative quality. Nine very atmospheric own compositions of Spaargaren, Elbracht and Barras, almost reminding one of chamber music, make ‘The Dark Peak’ a very special cd. And a recording that, as we have come to expect from this label, sounds very bright and warm. A big compliment for this European quartet!

Frank Huser

Listen to tracks from this album: http://bit.ly/r43YuG.

European Union Quartet – The Dark Peak
CD-REVIEW

European Union Quartet – The Dark Peak
line up: Iman Spaargaren soprano- and tenorsaxophone and bassclarinet; Ulrich Elbracht guitar; Gavin Barras double bass; Marek Dorcik drums
record date: february 2011 at Wedgeview Studio
release: 2011
label: OAP Records
tracks: 9
time: 50.59
website: www.jazzquartet.eu - www.oaprecords.com
review by: Rinus van der Heijden

A saxophone player who sounds like John Coltrane. “Oh boy, here we go again”, you think. After all, how often has this icon of modern jazz been approximated or copied already? Countless times by now, and almost always with miserable results.
When you put on this cd from the European Union Quartet, the feeling described above immediately encroaches upon you. But although Iman Spaargaren wanders around in Coltrane’s musical kitchen, he manages to find the right spices to lift the music of the European Union Quartet above that of the average copycat. That is because he, though operating within Coltrane’s saxophone sound, adds new dimensions through the slightly hidden, philosophical meanings of all nine pieces.

In that same first piece you already hear how Spaargaren approaches the sometimes melancholic tone of John Coltrane. Shortly aspirated phrases create a build-up towards a climax, just like Trane used to do. But just a bit further ahead the Dutch saxophone player reaches a side-road, which he turns into with great fervour and where Ulrich Elbracht’s guitar is waiting for him. For a large part, the two of them determine the substance and power of this eminently enjoyable cd. Spaargaren’s exploits on the bass clarinet are also of a high level.

The European Union Quartet – so named because it consists of a Dutch, German, Slovakian and British jazz musician – mostly reaches for atmospheres laid out by the melodic themes of the pieces. Four pieces were written by Iman Spaargaren, three by Ulricht Elbracht, and two by Gavin Barras. All four players strive for detail, but combine it with a more broad-minded approach; intense ensemble playing, but also room for individual ideas. And above all, the four members create ample space for each other to showcase their individual skills.

Read all about it below!!!

European Union Quartet

-The Dark Peak-  Release date: October 24th 2011

Atmosphere and emotions are key words for the European Union Quartet and its cd ‘The dark peak’. A quartet that is really European with its combination of a Dutch, a German, a Slovak and an English jazzmusician. The title piece (by bassplayer Gavin Barras) has a nearly picturesque quality: one hears a landscape growing in the sheer suggestive lines of sax and guitar. Adventurous music making is what these nine, own compositions have in common. It can be in subtle musings, with a dreamlike feel, like in the beautiful soundscape of ‘House by the lake’. Or in the way the quartet grows together towards a structure in ‘Reddish Vale’. All four instruments are equally important in their improvisations and strikingly together in emotionality. Saxplayer Iman Spaargarens composition ‘Zieleroersel’ is all about emotions and it is a joy to hear how suggestive and controlled the band explores form and sound. The European Union Quartet plays a modern jazz that looks for the inside of things. With great emotional and melodic qualities.

For soundsamples and other information go to:

www.oaprecords.com/catalog/euq

For more information about the band go to: www.jazzquartet.eu

Iman Spaargaren - Saxophones & Bass Clarinet

Ulrich Elbracht – Guitar

Gavin Barras – Double Bass

Marek Dorcik- Drums

Produced by O.A.P. Records

Producer & Engineer: Barry Olthof

Graphic Design: Monomonnik

Photography: Ron Beenen

Recordings made by Olthof Audio Productions at The Wedgeview Studio, Woerdense Verlaat, The Netherlands

Mixed and mastered at O.A.P. Studio, The Hague, The Netherlands

Release date: 24 October 2011

Cat. Nr: OAPR1101

Labelcode: 25530
EAN-code: 8714835087380

Distribution Bertus order Nr: K63496

? & ? O.A.P. Records 2011

TRACKS:

1 Reddish Vale

2 Schmeissendorf 7

3 Na de Regen

4 House by the Lake

5 Sixth Sence

6 Zieleroersel

7 Dear Mr. Scofield

8 The Dark Prelude

9 The Dark Peak

Track 1, 3, 4 and 6 composed by Iman Spaargaren

Track 2, 5 and 7 composed by Ulrich Elbracht

Track 8 and 9 composed by Gavin Barras

We have been very busy the last few months rehearsing, writing, recording and gigging! In January/February we recorded our new album near Amsterdam, in a very very nice studio with Barry Olthof. Barry is the owner of O.A.P. Records, a great new label based in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The new album features an all original program of compositions by Ulrich Elbracht, Iman Spaaragren and Gavin Barras. We have developed nicely as a group and have a really focused sound. It takes time for a group to really gel and we are definitely getting there!

Our second album will be released in autumn 2011 on O.A.P. Records. Check out the label here www.oaprecords.com