CD REVIEW NEW ISSUE

ARTIST:  NOCA & IVA BITTOVA
TITLE: NOCA & IVA BITTOVA
LABEL: HEVHETIA

TUNES: AFTER / ARABICA / SAUVIGNON / PIOUX / DAN DAKA  / BIO - BIO / J. DOCK / FIRST FLOOR / SPOLU / ELEPHANT SONG / XXX - YYY / BERLIN QUARTET 2 / SONNENALLEE / STAVGNAGER SUITE 1. 58:53

PERSONNEL: Bittova, vln, voc; Didrik Ingvaldsen, tpt, el. tpt; Radim Hanousek; ss, bari; Marion Friedl, b; Vaclav Palka, d, perc. No location or date

Trumpeter Didrik Ingvaldsen wrote 11 of the 14 original pieces for this quintet of two horns, violin, bass, and drums, with vocals supplied by Iva Bittova, the violinist. Many listeners would do well to start with "Bio-Bio," "J. Dock," "First Floor," "Elephant Song," and "Berlin Quartet 2," each of which offers creative horn lines and/or melodies and musical structures with some traditional elements. Most of the other selections are of a provocatively creative nature, with unusual vocals and vocal sounds generating a disturbing quality. Beyond one's tastes for these two modes, the music is well-performed with imaginative solos featuring Ingvaldsen and saxophonist Radim Hanousek, and strong rhythmic playing from bassist Marion Friedl and drummer/percussionist Vaclav Palka.

Don Lerman
CD review from
Volume 41, No. 2: April, May, June,
2015 issue
www.cadencemagazine.com