Geschmacksarbeit by Joachim Zoepf

NurNichtNur: one of the four or five most important labels of the German AND European improvised music scene, of which the clarinettist and saxophonist Joachim Zoepf is a pillar. Of all the post-Evan Evan reed blowers (Fuchs, Doneda,Leimgruber, Butcher, Keune, Van Bergen, Wissell), he is probably one of the  one of the least recorded, despite the remarkable list of his recordings with recordings with first-rate improvisers. Paul Hubweber, Gunter Christmann, Alex Frangenheim, Hans Schneider, Marc Charig, Michael Griener and percussionist Wolfgang Schliemann, with whom he recorded a superb duet (Zweieiige Zwillinge on the label NurNichtNur label. Today, he has become the man of of the brilliant Gunter Christmann, one of the two pioneers of radical German improvisation (with and in the company of Paul Lovens) during the Lovens) during the 70's. JZ works closely with the Editions Explico and this label produced his remarkable solo album Bagatellen. With a print run of 100 copies, Geschmacksarbeit, his sixth solo album, documents his Kurzwellen für SopranSaxofon und Computer interface and his Langwellen für Bass Clarinet and Computer Interface (2017 - 2018). This kind of approach

only makes sense if the use of interactive electronics brings a new dimension to the acoustic instrument by giving it a subtle symbiosis, an increase in tension, an interesting textural extension, etc.tensionetc.... It avoids the aesthetic pitfall of of evanescent counterpoint, of question-answer interaction, or of the or disembodied noise jamming. Much of the interest interest lies in the textural sound envelope of the electronic medium which attributes of breath loops (fingering, articulation, etc.) while transforming them (fingering, articulation, etc.) while transforming them in such a way as to increase the roughness, friction friction, density, dynamics. Compared to some attempts by colleagues, his approach with electronics stands out in my opinion without my opinion without hesitation. It goes beyond the stage of the interesting or the honourable attempt. It's true that for a free improviser it's better to look for and try to discover something new. better to look for and try to discover something new than to push open doors. than to push open doors. But you also have to convince in the absolute. With his kurz- and langwellen, Joachim Zoepf goes further. He delivers a vital work that sublimates his enthusiastically.

(Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg)

Founded by Dieter Schlensog, NurNichtNur soon became a large underground label for sound art releases. Based in Kleve, Germany, the majority of its releases are experimental solo projects. Since they often transcend the realm of traditional “music”, they are considered Experimental Sound Productions.



Digital distribution administered by Hans Tammen.