Freedom : Rules     2001

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. . . rules?  Of what use are they?   . . . they restrain [us] . . . from . . . being . . . fools or frauds.     ---   Leonardo

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In the world of music, and especially in that most specialized of worlds known as modern jazz, the phrase “Musical Adventure” very often means that the listener is in for what might be better described as a “sonic nightmare” and the word “freedom” more often than not promises the adventurous musical soul an evening of aesthetic chaos.  This, for what it’s worth, has been my experience over the 15 years I’ve been producing concerts and, even more so, throughout the 50 years I’ve been exploring the vast landscape of the musical universe that stretches out so temptingly to the intrepid cultural.  Not to say this is always a bad thing.  But it did give me pause when longtime friend and co-musical travel companion Delbert Chu handed me an advance copy of Tahsili Consort’s Freedom : Rules, the 5th title in the group’s Musical Adventure.  I girded my loins for the ordeal.  Quite willingly, mind you.  But also on edge; senses alert; guarded against aural angst.  What I got was an oasis.  A wonderful collection of mental excursions…exotic, intriguing, satisfying, and after three readings refreshingly rich in ideas hidden between the cracks.  Reminds me a lot of great moments past while giving me new ones.

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Art done right is indeed freedom, but freedom within rules (which is, I suspect, what the Tahsili guys were getting at with the title).  Invention only works, I think, when it finds and offers up a new, rich, potent order out of the chaos, an order that compels others.  Well, Freedom : Rules certainly compels me.  It’s on my active play list. Now I’ve got to find Tahsili’s first four.  They are hard to find.  Maybe eBay.

                         

                                                                                           ---   Jim Ralph,  Executive Director of The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts  in Eugene, Oregon.

 

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( Listen to / download:   Tahsili Consort V, on the  My Music  page )

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Tahsili Consort lasted just over four short years.  Tahsili Consort V is a selection of their adventures together in the land of improvisation, where freedom and rules collaborated to transform the past into the future at the same time that they were converting the future into the past.  Not just the presentation of a gift, but also a gift of the present.  No melodies or chords were agreed  upon in advance.  Someone started playing and others would jump in whenever it seemed right.  Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.  But it was always a whole bunch of fun.

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What’s Next?

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Even though they played together regularly for four years, only a small fraction of the pieces they performed were ever recorded.  But all of the pieces that were recorded are included in the Complete Works Boxed Set.

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Since the group’s last recording date in 2001, Bruce Heldt has focused on his solo playing in anticipation of recording solo piano piano music after his retirement.  In 2009 Bruce found time to record a number of his short sketches for piano that were composed to document ideas for use in larger compositions.

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The other members of Tahsili Consort have dispersed back to their own individual musical pursuits, but don’t be surprised if some of them return to perform on Bruce’s future chamber music compositions.

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Special Thanks to

 

Tahsili Consort wishes to thank the following guest musicians, without whom these recordings would not be the same.  It was a pleasure playing with them.

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     Chet Bluder, trumpet;  Ted Bruchel, violin;  Beth Curdel, flute;  Tory Heldt, percussion, whistle, broken glass;  Aaron Heldt, percussion.

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And a very special thanks to Loi Heldt for the beautiful fabric boxes that the Complete Works Boxed Sets came in.    Don't forget to check out:

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Loi's Quilt & Fabric Box Gallery

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None of Tahsili Consort’s music was edited for content after recording, only for recording quality or to rearrange individual tracks into longer pieces

 or longer pieces into shorter tracks.

 

 

Production Credits

    

Recording Engineer       Mark Ten Kurzweil

Recorded at                       The Living Room

Mastering                      The Digital Sunspot

Duplication                                 Kunaki LLC

Produced by                              Bruce Heldt

Graphic Design                          Berl Deutch

Key Grip                                    Tru Belched

Key Tickler                                 Bruce Heldt

Boxed Set Fabric Boxes                 Loi Heldt

 

Copyright  1997 – 2001   Formelodia Music

 

 

Tahsili Consort dedicates CDs I - IV to the memory of Miles; to the shape of Ornette’s jazz to come; to the melodic courage of Keith Jarrett; and to all “free” improvisers who have exposed their musical souls.

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There are fewer than 88 notes in the Tahsili Consort repertoire.

On their five CDs they play more than a few of them. -- Anna Graham

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