RELIGHT by Uwe Oberg Joe Fonda Lucía Martínez

For quite a long time I didn't play in that tradition-loaded line-up with bass and drums. With Joe and Lucía it's an almost entire new thing. It's joy and challenge at the same time. It's absolutely fresh and all is about being attentive in the present.
Uwe Oberg

THE NEW YORK CITY JAZZ RECORD / February 2020
by Robert Iannapollo:
Since the release of his first album in 1981, bassist Joe Fonda has participated in over 150 recordings, in addition to leading sessions under his own name and as a co-leader of bands (Fonda/Stevens Group, Nu Band). He’s always had a penchant for ‘outside’
collaborations, many with international improvisers; recent releases have included work with Japanese pianist Satoko Fujii and German guitarist Erhard Hirt, to name just two. Below are the two most recent
releases of Fonda continuing his exploration of new music by players with whom he has not previously recorded.
German pianist Uwe Oberg has amassed a solid discography since his first solo piano album (1993), followed by several trio and quartet records, as well as duos with players such as saxophonist Evan Parker and guzheng player Xu Fengxia. It’s the latter who provides the link between Fonda and Oberg as the bassist also recorded a duet album with her. Add Spanish percussionist Lucía Martínez and the result is Relight, an all-improvised piano trio album with wide purview. The opener is a good demonstration: it starts slowly, the players feeling each other out with Martínez particularly effective, focusing on the metallic elements of her setup; gradually becomes denser, more active until the listener is drawn into Cecil Taylor-like intensity; and finally recedes into delicate interplay, rebuilding up to a barrage to finish off the piece.
“Lighter Than Before” is as its title suggests. It’s a perfect followup, a more subtle exploratory piece with Oberg focusing on the inside of the piano and Fonda engaging in a brief uncredited flute interlude.
“Almost Two” contains a lengthy duet section between Fonda and Martínez, which is one of the highlights of the disc. “Relight Year” is pure soundscape. Oberg’s instincts were spot on when choosing his
partners for this disc and Relight is free piano trio playing at its finest.

Tracklist

1.	Their Cheeks Glowed	10:34

2.	Lighter Than Before	9:42

3.	Almost Two	5:24

4.	The Sharp Side of It	15:45

5.	Relight Years	5:28

6.	Triple Relish	3:59

Credits

released January 1, 2019

Uwe Oberg piano
Joe Fonda bass, flute
Lucía Martínez drums

Recorded @ the Just Music Festival, Wiesbaden, Germany on February 23, 2019 by Markus Quiring & Benjamin von der Weiden
Mixed & mastered by Axel Schrepfer / Planet No 13
All music by Uwe Oberg / Joe Fonda / Lucía Martínez (GEMA)
Cover photo by Uwe Oberg
Design by Małgorzata Lipińska
2019 nottwo records, Poland

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