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The Flume Factor
   Frank Gratkowski (alto saxophone and clarinets)
   Dieter Manderscheid (bass)
   Gerry Hemingway (drums)

Hold on! Unless we are mistaken, this is the debut recording by one of the strongest reed players to come out of Europe in the last decade.  Gratowski’s playing has the fire and passion of Brötz tempered with a delicacy and lyricism that is extraordinarily engaging.  One of the strongest reed trio recordings you can buy.  Comes with our highest recommendation.

"The Flume Factor" is an excellent demonstration that "brainy" music need not to be passionless or dull. Right from the hellishly complicated opening to "Epitasis", it's clear that this is an important release.” – Cadence

“This is a fascinating release by a young European lion, one who is by no means reliving the past, but rather remodeling it. He should be commanding your interest.” – Bruce Carnevale, Jazziz

“Eight pieces combining passion, dynamics, tremendous interplay.” – Coda Magazine

“One thing about Frank Gratkowski: He does not fit any mold. Here, he plays alto saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet in a very individual style backed by Dieter Manderscheid on bass and Gerry Hemingway on drums. Gratkowski favors a soft, almost classical sound that tips a hat to Anthony Braxton. While most of the music is improvised, it could just as easily be notated. That's a compliment to Gratkowski's remarkable ability to instantaneously create flurries of well - developed lines. Just when you think that he can't swing, though, he lets it roar with some hard - charging, let - 'em - loose flaying, equal to the best of the thrashers. He's appears more impressive as a leader than where he has recorded elsewhere as a sideman. Manderscheid and Hemingway are excellent partners, following Gratkowski's cues, but also pounding out some brilliant efforts of their own. While this is mostly a chamber jazz set, it contains enough variety and spunk to pull the listener in for the whole trip.” – Steven A Loewy

8 tracks in 69:57 minutes

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If you like this cd, you might also enjoy listening to:

Quicksand (Gräwe, Gratkowski, and Lovens)

Pele's Tears (Howard, Maroney, Gratkowski, Poore)

Arrears   (Graewe, Gratkowski, Lindberg)

Kollapse (Gratkowski, Wierbos, Manderscheid, and Hemingway)

Concert in Berlin, 1996, (Gräwe, Gustafsson, Tramontana, Mattos and Sanders)

Other Songs, (Gräwe, van Bergen, Phillips)

Spectral Soprano (Lol Coxhill)

Melodie und Rhythmus (Gräwe, Gratkowski, Kessler and Drake)