VITAL WEEKLY (The Netherlands) is first with their review of our most recent release : LIVE AT PLUS-ETAGE VOLUME 1. A 3CD set that brings together 3 beautiful live label events, held at jazzvenue PlusEtage. This 3xCD set is available from our bandcamp store.

“Two duos and one trio took the stage at Plus Etage in Baarle-Nassau, The Netherlands; however, much to my surprise, on three different, non-consecutive nights. I had not heard of this stage, but I don’t move around in free improvisation circles; I know very little about free improvisation, so I am a mere amateur reviewer. This new triple CD package sees a change in cover design, and this time there are no liner notes by Guy Peters.
On the first disc, we find a recording from April 29, 2022, by Charlotte Keeffe on trumpet and flugelhorn and Andrew Lisle on drums. The latter is no stranger to this label. Keeffe’s name also turned up a few times, playing with various musicians, such as Deludium Skies, Day Evans Dale Ensemble and Kodian Plus. There are two lengthy cuts on this disc, with a relatively traditional free improvisation, free jazz approach. The instruments are recognizable, and the two have a lively interaction. For most of the fifty minutes, the energy levels are pretty up, and there is great action and reaction between the two players. Only, occasionally they seem to ‘lose’ it, or, instead, they pull back and shift into a slower gear, finding a new place to start and get the ball rolling. I am sure it isn’t easy to keep a high energy level going for a long time. For all I know, this is part of the process—a refined work.
The second is the trio recording from September 30, 2022. On stage label boss Dirk Serries (archtop guitar), Benedict Taylor (viola) and Stefan Keune (sopranino saxophone). Here too, Keune is, for me, a relatively new name. His name only came up once, albeit also on this label. Maybe it is the nature of the instruments, but the music sounds ‘smaller’, even when this trio displays great hecticness in playing the instruments. Not exclusively, but there is a lot of scratching and scraping of instruments, and lots of small notes fly around like shards, falling and tumbling around. Also, on this disc, there are two lengthy pieces of music (ten minutes more than on the first disc), which is quite an exhausting experience (and, mind you, I didn’t play this release in one go; I spread it over three days). More than on the first disc, the energy levels were way up, the sound even more fragmented, and I needed a short break when the music was over.
The final disc was recorded two months after the second disc and had a duo of Martina Verhoeven and Goncalo Almeida. They both play the double bass, which, I believe, is a first for Verhoeven. She usually plays the piano, but this is not the first time this label sees musicians switching instruments – “I never played this instrument, so I think I can”. At forty-two minutes, this disc is the shortest in this package. While not free of some nervous and hectic, there isn’t the same level of energy, which (and I am thinking here of the listener who goes for the experience of playing all of these in a row) makes, perhaps, a good moment to relax, a bit, because it’s not always the most reflective music. It is, so I guess, within the nature of the instrument used. The low end of the bass plays a role here. Interestingly they also use small bells at one point, and I believe I also heard voices. I might be wrong. Quieter at times but still very much the work of free improvisation and another fine work with some significant interaction between these two players. ” Vital Weekly – The Netherlands