Secret Rhythms

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Those familiar with Burnt Friedman's various jazz eccentricities (Flanger, Drome, Nu Dub Players, Nonplace Urban Field) have come to expect specific elements from specific projects, each Friedman venture offering some variation on the theme of processed world electro-jazz. 'Secret Rhythms,' the latest addition to Friedman's extraordinary Nonplace label, revisits that recognizable theme and presents the listener with a distinctively laid-back composition.

Friedman has again conspired with the upper echelons of the musically interesting, this time teaming up with ex-CAN drummer extraordinaire Jaki Liebezeit to create more deviations on deep-Fried jazz. Friedman fusion favorite Josef Suchy returns on the guitar, and there is excellent vibraphone work from Morten Gronvad. Though 'Secret Rhythms' is a barefaced Friedman formulation, Liebezeit's contribution can hardly go unnoticed. Friedman obviously handed the rhythmic reins over to Liebezeit and focused more on keyboards, steel drums, and processing, the outcome being a more sedate production than prior Friedman ventures. Friedman fans will acknowledge a 'Con Ritmo' feel to this recording, but its sparse atmospherics adequately distinguish 'Secret Rhythms' from sounding all-too-familiar.

Liebezeit's drumming is leisurely layered and sans pedals, creating clandestine rhythms among Suchy's subdued electric guitar, Gronvad's tasteful vibe stylings, and Friedman's almost ambient keys. The lack of a full 'drum kit' sound is an alluring aspect of 'Secret Rhythms' as shakers, skins, and static substitute for the absence of hi hat and kick, imparting the music with a nearly tribal feel. Can Liebezeit's percussive minimalism and timing be solely credited with saving 'Secret Rhythms' from redundancy? I wouldn't go as far as suggest that, for Friedman's programming, production, and processing must also be praised. But certainly, between the two contributors a compelling aspect is added to Friedman's signature sound.

A laid-back atmosphere is the standard set on 'Secret Rhythms' as each player offers up a pleasantly placid performance; The rhythms born from this project seem to be the soothing, downtempo siblings of Friedman's other recently released endeavors (i.e. Flanger's 'Outer Space/Inner Space' and the Atom Heart/Replicant Rhumba Rockers compilation.)