Shq

An early (1967) example of European free improvisation, Karel Velebney's SHQ on occasion feels a little tentative in comparison to full-on fearless explorations like the work of Peter Brötzmann or Fred Van Hove. Although there are several free passages, especially on the largely solo opener "The Uhu Sleeps Only During the Day," the rhythm section of pianist Ludek Svabensky, bassist Karel Vejvoda, and drummer Josef Vejvoda largely sticks to basic post-bop rhythms that rein in Velebney's bass clarinet and tenor saxophone and Jirí Stivín's woodwinds. As exploratory post-bop goes, this is often very good stuff, particularly on the closing "Andulko Safarova," which has the graceful, floating quality of one of Gil Evans' more exotic scores, and the swinging "Joachim Is Our Friend." But given the label, time, and place involved, curious listeners might expect something more extreme, and such people might be disappointed.