Jazz Rendezvous - August 2006 By Hadley Titus When a reviewer says that an album, or movie, or book is "interesting", you can almost be assured that they didn't like what they had to review, but everybody else liked it, it may even have won some awards. They then feel they're missing something, so whatever it is they have to opine on, must surely be "interesting". Well, "CONVERGENCE" by Ian Dogole & Hemisphere is "Interesting". Undoubtedly. But, for the right reasons. Every track on this album piqued my interest.

The album is like a heady infusion of exotic, aromatic teas from the far-flung corners of the world like South America, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I felt a little like Marco Polo must have felt on his epic adventures, not knowing quite what to expect over the next mountain or river, but being utterly enthralled by what he found. I have never taken any drugs, but I imagine that to someone in an LSD-induced stupor, a simply hummed tune would probably have the myriad of sounds and colours that pour forth from each offering. The tracks are relatively long, but this then is perfect, as each song is so multi-layered, that each "infusion of teas" needs time to brew to enable you to enjoy each heady delight. The first track I listened to was "John Coltrane" an 11:16 Xmas present of a song, that starts ever so quietly with Bill Douglass' double bass, and then eventually the other musicians join him, to produce an instant in-your-face, no-holds-barred jazz classic of epic proportions. The very next track "Hijaz Oyun Havasi", puts us smack bang in the middle of the Arabian Nights, with all that THAT entails. Again another multi-layered song with moments of fast, frenetic instrumentation tempered with achingly beautiful quiet moments, during which one imagines gazing at a golden Arabian moon. Very Turkish. Very traditional. Very exciting. That Middle-Eastern feel continues on the next item, "Jungle Jive II", laced with very strong Afro-Celtic rhythms. Paul McCandless is an astonishing, breathtaking (almost literally) pennywhistler, and Ian Dogole is no slouch on the African talking drum. A highly evocative song. Beautiful. Just Beautiful. "House Party Starting" is exactly that. It sounds like a group of touring musicians stopped off at a friend's house and decided to start a party - and what a party. Good ole' traditional jazz. On "Song for Billy" (dedicated to drummer, Billy Higgins), Ian Dogole surpasses himself on that fascinating instrument, the "hang", which sound very much like a set of steel drums. Other instruments featured in this incredibly ethereal, mystique-laden song are the bass clarinet, flute, bamboo flute, double bass, the oboe and piano. It's incredible just how perfectly they all blend to create a musical mosaic. No instrument is superfluous on this item. Probably my favourite song on this superlative cd. It is generally accepted that JAZZ originated in America, but had it originated in the Middle East/North Africa, it would probably have sounded like the opening item on this cd, "Nostalgia". This group of highly competent musicians have produced a work that is indeed an adventure. Take the journey with them. You might not come out on the other side completely unscathed, but you certainly will not be impervious. And I promise you, you?ll go back. Again. And again. As I said before, "interesting" this collection certainly is. BUT, is it JAZZ??? Yes! No! I don't know! I DON'T CARE !!!!!! What it is, is BRILLIANT!!!!!! ================================================== Hadley is the front of house manager at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town and in his spare time he masquerades as a CD reviewer for the Jazz Rendezvous Website, his email address is hadleyt@artscape.co.za Back to Press