Both performers work and play exceptionally well with tone color. The percussion playing conveys a strong sense of melodic contour. Using a range of instruments, from C bass to soprano, the recorder playing creates a rich timbral palette.
Tom Bickley on One Fell Swoop in American Recorder
Een bijzondere cd, zo mag je ‘One Fell Swoop’ gerust noemen. Twee musici die zich in het fascinerende gebied tussen compositie en improvisatie bewegen en daarbij gebruik maken van grote en heel kleine geluiden, volksmuziek niet schuwen, evenmin als atonale improvisaties. (...) Ze zijn architecten, die muziek maken die je nog nooit hoorde. (...) Onthoud slechts dat je van de ene verbazing in de andere valt.
Rinus van der Heijden op www.jazzenzo.nl
"In bridging the awesome gap between the recorder and percussion, Rara Avis
also bridges the medieval world and the postmodern, creating a quirky
soundworld of noise-rimmed folk songs and atonal estampies that sounds like
it never existed, but should have."
Kyle Gann
artwork by Jon Keegan
In the spring of 2008, Rara Avis proudly presented their debut album One Fell Swoop with a series of concerts in Amsterdam, as a duo and with guest musicians including Ned McGowan, Robert Curgenven, Luc Ex, and Alfredo Genovesi.
Rara Avis are strange birds, travelling through a variety of genres, cultures and eras. Their approach happily crosses the boundaries between composition and improvisation, freely weaving together medieval dances, South Indian techniques, contemporary compositions, electronics, improvisatory elements and unexpected sound events into an unbroken tale.