“Negative Space” is a new release of this year which combines together the basics of avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, experimental music and academic avant-garde. The music was recorded by Katie Hae Leo (poetry, voice), Guerino Mazzola (grand piano), Alex Lubet (National steel guitar (1), acoustic guitar (2, 5, 6, 8), electric bass (3, 4, 7), soprano ukulele (9)), Nick Zielinski (drums) and James E. Holdman (electric guitar (3, 4, 7). The musicians are switching between arranged compositions and abstract free improvisations. Open form meets conventional classical forms, extended and experimental playing techniques get along with traditional ones, original ways of improvising, unconventional musical decisions and other elements. Here free improvisation, avant-garde jazz, experimental, sonoristic and contemporary academical music are brought together with poetry, vocal music and other elements. That makes an original, bright and inventive sound.

“Negative Space” has a difficult structure, multi-layed musical pattern and universal instrumentation. Five great musicians have their very own and unique sound, original playing style, especially expressive and emotional playing manner, sparkling virtuosity and innovative point of view. They manage to create bright, luminous and original sound by fusing together huge variety of styles, genres and playing techniques. The main melody line is based on piano, electric and acoustic guitars. It’s – universal, inspiring and driving filled with independent melodies crossing to each other and brought together in subtle and organic way. Moving and dynamic piano melodies are accompagnied by splashing thrills, sparkling virtuosic ornaments, passionate trills, flowing driving solos, sonoristic experiments, strange timbres and other kinds of musical language’s elements. The aggressive, expressive and luminous episodes filled with intense texture and vitality are combined together with subtle solemn pieces, lyrical contemplations, relaxing meditations, minimalistic samples and silent pauses. All kinds of colors, moods, expressions and playing techniques are gently brought together and make an astonishing, bright and vital melody line. The synthesis of acoustic and electronic guitars is naturally made – here light, sweet, sometimes romantic and fragile, sometimes aggressive, furious and frantic tunes of acoustics are combined together with strange timbres, ambient, glitch, sonoristic experiments, spectral and concrete music elements, synthesized tunes, heavy riffs and twisting virages. This interesting fusion of two different guitar’s types are illustrated by national steel guitar and its colorful, expressive and vital solos. More exotic tunes, charming flowing melodies filled with tiny, elegant and gorgeous ornaments are brought in by ukulele. Electric bass keeps a stable, tight and firm bass line formed by repetitive series and monotonous tunes contrasting to luminous culminations, terrific riffs, passionate melodies going down to haunted, depressed, deep or lyrical pieces. Poetry and voice brightly illustrate whole music – it makes the music a succesful synthesis of experimental and traditional playing techniques, acoustics and electronics, vocalisation, poetry and expansion of technical abilities of other instruments. Dynamic, bright, expressive and vital rhythmic section is created by using all kinds of rhythms, typical rhythmic figures, strange timbres, special effects, exotic or rarely used tunes, eclectic stylistic combos and other similar elements. The music of this album is inspiring, innovative and bright.