Strength in Numbers

Review of Kārlis Auziņš’ Double Trio Album «Equilibrium Suite»

Kārlis Auziņš has undeniably become one of our leading saxophonists, a musician who follows his own creative path and is unafraid to experiment. He is equally interested in minimalism and saturated sound; the Equilibrium Suite maintains a perfect balance between the two.

As is known, Auziņš has already developed a new program with a string quartet, featuring global music influences. Titled String of Winds, we experienced this long-form work in a visually and aurally captivating live performance at «Angārs» in early March. However, knowing Kārlis’s inherent perfectionism, we will have to wait a while for the official release.

A similar path was taken with the double trio program Equilibrium Suite. We first enjoyed it — with ears wide in pleasant surprise — at a packed «M/Darbnīca» on September 23, 2023, celebrating John Coltrane’s birthday, and again in November. The first iteration featured a double rhythm group consisting of Edvīns Ozols with Estonian bassist Peedu Kass, alongside local drummers Kaspars Kurdeko and Rinalds Maksimovs. By the second performance, the Estonian colleague had been replaced by another Baltic bass master, Gediminas Stepanavičius.

Following the recording session at the Jersika Records studio last August at the cultural space «1983,» and the subsequent release concert at «Angārs» this past March, we saw the final lineup of Equilibrium Suite: Ozols paired with German bassist David Helm, and Kurdeko with the Denmark-based Norwegian drummer Simon Olderskog Albertsen. Such lineup changes testify to Auziņš’s search as a composer for the ideal sound. And — as the saying goes — he who seeks, finds.

A Spiritual Journey

This musically delicate, spiritual journey of five remains dedicated to one of the great masters of jazz, John Coltrane, and primarily his iconic album «A Love Supreme». Naturally, one finds references here to Pharoah Sanders, Don Cherry, Albert Ayler, Sun Ra, and other Great Names of 1960s spiritual jazz.

The international rhythm group, where every member is a master in their own right, provides a stable foundation for the free flight of Kārlis’s tenor and soprano saxophones. It leads the listener on a truly spiritual journey through the musicians’ and our own consciousness. It is often said that to play from the heart, the music must first reach the heart. Here, it doesn’t burn out spectacularly but connects with layers of consciousness and perhaps the subconscious. For musicians, this next level is reached through constant playing; for listeners, through continuous listening.

The Sound: «Strength in numbers»

The spiritual journey is one facet; the sound itself is another. Logically, a double rhythm group is a more powerful and versatile musical combination, particularly fascinating in a concert setting. It is thrilling to watch the interplay of two drummers and two bassists — it is a conversation, a challenge, a covering of tracks, and a march toward a common goal with a clear slogan: strength in numbers.

The album itself was not recorded live or under analog conditions. This time, it is a digital recording possessing many layers, overtones, undertones, nuances, and subtleties. The album allows one to live through five distinct stages of a sonic journey separated by unhurried transitions. It features both an introduction and a conclusion, emphasizing the importance of a conceptual album in today’s world of rushing two-minute singles.

Track-by-Track Breakdown

«Perspective» (Part I): A preparation for the upcoming rises and falls rooted in contemporary music. The use of bows on double basses allows the listener to stay tuned in for a longer musical indulgence. It immediately switches off the mind’s expectation for instant gratification from the double rhythm section. There is no room for impatience here.

«Pursuit» (Part II): Introduced by a slowly building intensity of drumming, leading into a bass groove and allowing Auziņš to unleash the convincing power of his tenor sax.

«Observance» (Part III): Beginning the B-side of the vinyl without a transition, this part plunges into «free-jazzier» embraces while maintaining a persistent rhythm section, helping the listener stay focused on the clearly marked path ahead.

«Celebration» (Part IV): The longest track and the true culmination. It opens with a dizzying double-bass duel that settles into a specific groove, leading to Auziņš’s trademark playful soprano-saxophone «warbling.» Here, the sonic features of exotic cultures are most audible, breaking down the last remaining borders of the Equilibrium Suite highway.

«I Want to Tell You» (Part V): A logical descent following the climax. A droning transition leads to the album’s final and most melodic piece. It comes closest to referencing European classical music, while maintaining a flirtatious jazz presence.

Final Thought

This may be one of the most iconic and spiritually profound Latvian jazz recordings, capable of helping a true «jazzophile» through challenging moments more than the pharmaceutical business ever could. As Pharoah Sanders said: «Music is the healing force of the universe.» And why shouldn’t it be?