Track Listing

1. Composition I
2. Composition II
3. Composition II
4. Composition IV
5. Composition V
6. Composition VI
7. Composition VII
8. Composition VIII

          The music on this first installation of "Solo Contrabass" is amazing. Morgan Guberman plays the upright bass in an extremely experimental fashion, putting it to use like I've never heard it played before. The astounding originality is definitely one of it's strong points. Some of the sounds he creates leave me wondering how he does it, and because a lot of it is improvisation I'm sure half the time he he wondering the same thing, whether it's a collection of textured scraping noises or high pitched squeals. Although the tracks aren't very accessible they are still incredibly interesting. Most of the time there isn't a shard of rhythm, which gives the music a very abstract disposition. It might just be my preconceived notion of what an upright bass usually sounds like, but without the funk and rhythm I'm accustomed to these compositions seem even more left of centre. Each track is very lengthy, and for over an hour Guberman never seems to repeat himself or run out of ideas. This CD definitely isn't for everyone, but it's a treat for those who can find an appreciation for it.

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