POLLO D'ORO

Split album of American avant-jazz Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet and Estonians Ne Zhdali is last to date release of the later band. Released on grants, there was not too much time for preparing the material, and the listener will easy feel it.

Ne Zhdali by it's nature always was live show avant band, combining circus, klezmer and free jazz elements. With addition of American fee-jazz Quartet, the music became even more chaotic. The first comparison is coming on mind listening to this album is Zorn's Masada or Frank London NY downtown klezmer based free jazz. But....

If Zorn's outside free chaotic sound has very complex inside logic, and Frank London's jazz-klezmer has strong roots, this split album sounds more like not very successful imitation. Separate pieces are really great, but the main problem is there is no logic or structure or concept in this recording at all!

In fact, all compositions sound as just jamming, combining downtown free jazz elements and Ne Zhdali usual klezmer cabaret. Without any idea or concept. For sure, we are on the such musical genre's territory, where it is difficult to use regular categories, as structure. But - everyone with interest to Zorn's music will confirm, that even under the chaotic skin you can feel something, what connect sounds, melodies and noises together. And nothing is connected on Pollo d'Óro.Or let say - it's more punk-klezmer free jazz, attaractive in moments sounds and forms without having too much under the skin.

Still interesting album for free-avant jazz music and klezmer - punk lovers though.

Ne Zhdali (Unexpected) has a very interesting but short discography. Their albums are generally driven by wind instruments with strong folk inffluences from Mid and Eastern Europe and this album is not the exception but with a plus: sounds more mature than the previous ones.

Perhaps there are some weak songs such as "Petunja" or "Bulb", there are really brilliant moments along the album starting with "The 8th Day" is a strong opener full of complex arrangements that reminds me some Doctor Nerve stuff, specially in the closing epic section. The next song "Uke" is a short but nice wind driven melodical song with strong Mid and Eastern Europe folk reminiscences and it's another highlight along with "Kansas" and "Nothing Was Happen!"

But the jewels of the album are "Argonauts (Pollo D'Oro)" and "Wheel of Fortune". "Argonauts" is a complex piece in the style of bands such as Uz Jsme Doma, very dark and creepy mixed with some melodical sections which leads to very harmonic and floating moments; "Wheel Of Fortune" starts with a quiet and almost floating intro that leads into obscure and psyncopated rhytmical sections with an astonishing work on winds. Both are 5 stars compostions into Ne Zhdali discography.

IMO, the best album into Ne Zhdali discography and a 4* with no hestitation.