The Squid's Ear Magazine


Hubbard, Nathan / Kyle Motl: Obsidian (Confront)

Recording live in the studio in San Diego, percussionist Nathan Hubbard and double bassist Kyle Motl engage in four fascinating duets of improvised music, blending extended techniques and unconventional approaches to their instruments to evoke richly textured, unpredictable, and exploratory performances that push the boundaries of traditional bass-and-drum interplay.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Nathan Hubbard-percussion

Kyle Motl-double bass


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Label: Confront
Catalog ID: CORE 49
Squidco Product Code: 35535

Format: CDR
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: UK
Packaging: Cardboard Sleeve in Plastic Sleeve
Recorded at Weather the Storm Studios, in San Diego, California,on June 14th, 2021, by Nathan Hubbard.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"This combination of percussionist Hubbard and bassist Motl was recorded in 2021 and recently released on the UK-based Confront Recordings label. It consists of four tracks of heavily (if not fully) improvised duets. What is notable here is how Obsidian sounds little like a traditional bass/drum outing, as both musicians employ extended techniques and no small amount of chaos.

Hubbard uses a drum kit with numerous shakers and other objects to produce largely non-repeating and irrhythmic lines. While one can hear the influences of his North American and European free-improv precursors, Hubbard's work stands out for its earnestness and unpredictability. Indeed, the first few minutes of Obsidian - III are nothing short of an exhilarating percussion exhibition that the words "drum solo" do not begin to describe.

Motl has always been a busy and creative bassist, and this effort is no exception. Whether plucking or bowing, he gives the instrument a workout. This time around, Motl's bowing on the first pair of tracks is so rapid and outside - producing gritty squeaks as well as more conventional tones - that his lines take on an almost hypnotic quality. There is an intentional roughness here, a style of playing that a less skilled musician could not pull off.

Hubbard and Motl are well-educated, experienced, and thoughtful musicians who are aware of the canon but choose to do something different. And that is what makes Obsidian special. Accordingly, the album comes highly recommended."-Mike, AMN Reviews


Get additional information at AMN Reviews

Artist Biographies

"Percussionist/Composer/Instrument Builder Nathan Hubbard works in many different fields, but in general his work shows a decided interest in exploring the possibilities of sound and embracing the passing of time. This interest in sound can be seen in everything from his extended sound language as an improvisor to his homemade and found instruments. The different rates of passing time become relevant as both a rhythmic impetus and defining element in his compositions and their changing definitions of form, shape and outcome. Musically his explorations range from solo improvisations through small group collaborations to large scale compositions for his twenty-six member large ensemble, Skeleton Key Orchestra. As a composer his works range from solo pieces to medium scale works for a variety of ensembles, works for tape, electronics and acoustic instruments, large works for orchestras, creative orchestras and traditional big bands as well as pieces involving text, voice and other media. In the last several years Hubbard has been more involved with musical situations incorporating acoustics, enviroments and field recordings. His work as an artist can be seen on several of his CD covers and his work as an engineer and producer can be heard on almost all of his recordings. His current projects include solo performances, collaborations with Curtis Glatter (Glatter/Hubbard) and ARC Trio, as well as leading his own quintet (Nathan Hubbard/Passengers) and the large ensemble Nathan Hubbard Skeleton Key Orchestra. In addition to all this work, Hubbard has performed and/or recorded with artists such as Jacob Adler, Roger Aplon, David Borgo, Paul Carman, Castanets, Alex Cline, Anthony Davis, Michael Dessen, Mark Dresser, Tim DuRoche, Brad Dutz, Harris Eisenstadt, Marcos Fernandes, Justin Grinnell, Vinny Golia, Phillip Greenlief, Rick Helzer, Bill Horist, Mike Keneally, Paul Kikuchi, Ted Killian, Steuart Liebig, George Lewis, Doug Lunn, Noah Phillips, Garth Powell, Rafter, Jason Robinson, Tim Root, Scott Rosenberg, Jim Ryan, Chris Schlarb, Theodore Sistrunk, Moe! Staiano, GE Stinson, Kenseth Thibideau, Kris Tiner, Bertram Turetzky, Phillip Wachsmann and Nazo Zakkak."

-Castor & Pollux Music (http://www.castorandpolluxmusic.com/nmhubbard/info/bio.htm)
1/8/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Kyle Motl is a bassist, composer, and improviser. Active in a variety of ensembles and settings, Kyle's work crosses the boundaries between idioms as wide as free jazz, contemporary concert music, and extreme metal. Current interests include extended harmonic techniques for solo bass improvisation, electroacoustic performance with live electronics and improvising software, modular compositional schemes, recursive and generative structuring, and exploration of complex sonic spectra.

Kyle is a member of the Peter Kuhn Trio, and has been performing in quartet and trio with Abbey Rader since 2011. He maintains regular duo projects with T.J. Borden, Adam Tinkle, and Drew Ceccato. The Kyle Motl Trio, featuring Kjell Nordeson and Tobin Chodos is a collaborative platform for new compositions weaving complex structures together with free improvisation. Kyle has performed alongside artists including Anthony Davis, Kidd Jordan, Mary Halvorson, Roscoe Mitchell, Mark Dresser, and Wadada Leo Smith, among others.

Kyle holds a BM from Florida Atlantic University and an MM from Florida International University. He is a DMA candidate at UC San Diego, where he studies bass with Mark Dresser."

-Kyle Motl Website (http://www.kylemotl.com/about/biography/)
1/8/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Obsidian - I 4:51

2. Obsidian - II 8:21

3. Obsidian - III 17:32

4. Obsidian - IV 7:39

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
West Coast/Pacific US Jazz
Percussion & Drums
Stringed Instruments
New in Improvised Music
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