Reviews:
(Chain D.L.K.) The Unrepeatable Quartet consists of Chris Dadge on percussion, Ellwood Epps on trumpet, Jack Wright on alto and soprano saxophone, and Scott Munro on trombone, viola, and electronics. Dadge also runs Bug Incision Records, and each of them also work in a host of other ensembles. This improvisation session was recorded at David Ferris' house in Edmonton in 2012 and now you can experience it as if you were there - and by the time you're done, you'll wish you were. This is amazing improvisation with lots of energy and variety. I get the sense that 'unrepeatable' is intentional ' they would have a hard time doing this the same way twice. This is not all in your face; there is a good mix of dynamics and quiet passages that keep it all interesting. One thing is certain ' they would be amazing to see live. A lot of the jazz I get to review doesn't really push the envelope much; this one does. Needless to say, you won't hear this on your local 'smooth jazz' station (which is a shame). Still, these are highly skilled musicians who manage to make order seem like chaos, which is no small feat. If you like experimental jazz, you need to get this. This album weighs in at around 33 minutes. - Eskaton
(Sound Projector) Unrepeatable Quartet are a team of improvisers based in / originating from Canada and Pennsylvania, playing brass, percussion, viola, electronics…one of them, Chris Dadge, also runs the label Bug Incision. On Edmonton 2012 (EH?80) they sound very close to the styles of playing one would associate with 1970s improv – free, restless, skittery. Even the band name alludes to one of the primary attributes of free playing, its unrepeatability. Not especially innovative maybe, but they do it with great abandon and gusto, and it’s something of a relief to hear players untroubled by the contemporary vogue for “extended techniques” and just playing together in a warm and friendly manner which they clearly enjoy. - Ed Pinsent
(Monsieur Délire) Okay, so I was wrong – I humbly admit it. Two days after Calgary 2012, about which I said it “didn’t work”, the same line-up (Jack Wright, Ellwood Epps, Scott Munro & Chris Dadge) recorded Edmonton 2012, a single 33-minute free improvisation. And this time it works, totally, it’s a blessed moment: the improvisation has depth, appeal, surprises, and wonderful group playing. Released on CDr like all the titles in Public Eyesore’s eh? Series. - François Couture
(Revue & Corrigee) Une respiration parmi ces univers glacés avec le UNREPEATABLE QUARTET, sur le même label, et sorti juste après "(winter pale) red sun". Un quartet de cuivre et batteur, pour une cuisine à feu doux, à cuisson lente, où l'on retrouve Jack Wright, Ellwood Epps, Scott Munro et Chris Dadge, enregistré en novembre 2012. C'est que ça swingerait presque, sur une couche de souffles continus, de clapets aux ouvertures rapides, sur une ferraille sautillante de temps à autre. Une impro statique qui se tient, ni jazz, ni free. Et pas répétitif bien sur, mais un peu de tout ça à la fois. D'assez bonnes raisons qui me font apprécier la fraicheur de ce disque. - Cyrille Lanoë
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