kelly bray + caleb duval


By Jury Kobayashi

Bray/Duval is an incredible duo album by Kelly Bray (trumpet) and Caleb
Duval (double bass). It was released by the relatively new record label
F.I.M. Records, out of New Haven Connecticut, which also hosts a concert
series by the same name. This record is easily one of my favourite releases
of 2024. The album is quite short (roughly 35 minutes in length), and I
find I often listen to it twice in a row because of the sheer amount of
amazing playing packed into a beautifully succinct album.

In Perpetual Frontier: Properties of Free Music, Joe Morris outlines that
there are 5 methods of interaction (solo, unison, compliment,
juxtaposition, silence) that free music musicians can choose to engage in
when they play. This duo uses all 5 forms of interaction, weaving them in
and out and bouncing between the different types of interaction, often
changing the mode of interaction on a dime. This album is a lesson in
interaction, and it makes for an amazing listening experience. Bray has one
of the widest pallets of articulation on the trumpet that I have ever
heard. She can go from a beautiful rich tone, to spluttering attacks, to
percussive punchy notes. Duval plays the bass beautifully, and he is
clearly engaged in a deep study of the possibilities of preparing the
double bass. The effect of the wide range of articulations and careful
attention to modes of interaction has produced an album that demands
repeated listening.

The album art (painted by Bray) is layered and striking, much like the
album itself. The recording is also beautifully done–I love that I can
hear Duval preparing the instrument, or removing preparations from under
the strings etc. This album is great, I highly recommend listening to it
and checking out other F.I.M. records and concerts if you are in the
Connecticut region.





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