Each piece on this great disc is filled with surprising twists and turns and unique combinations of players and directions. Quite a wonderful offering! (Bruce Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery)

“near-Dixieland clarinet riffs and punk-rock-like slashing cello screeds in the centre of contrapuntal call-and-response vamps”
“three-dimensional timbral protuberances, that vary according to the musical make up”
“Harmonized horns plus occasional vibrating pulsation find the backing varying from outer-space splashes to mellow harmonics”
“slurry pitches on which sharp saxophone obbligatos are displayed”
“repeated aviary split tones; nearly inaudible percussion squeaks and rubs plus slinky, squeaky trills; a thick carpet of echoing and descending tones, drum rumbles and pops”
(Ken Waxman Jazzword.com)

“The music is a satisfying combination of composed and free jazz sounds.”
“The beauty here is Dijkstra’s ability to organize these sounds into coherent passages.”
“The Collective has a strong sense of song and a responsibility to carry listeners along for the ride.”
(Mark Corroto All About Jazz.com)

“Refreshingly, although the music here frequently skirts the frayed edge of the irrational, there is a pervasive sense of joy throughout much of Gnomade and the performers are clearly enjoying themselves.”
“This CD will be a worthwhile listen for those of you among us who have the appropriate constitution for this particular brand of quirky improvised music.” (Cadence Magazine, June 2007)

“Dipje”, the last track, is a crushingly great groove – so mellow and so rich (Signal to Noise #46: Summer 2007)

“...angular, abstract, quirky.”
“...the most compelling feature are the melodies, jaunty little things (by everyone but Mulvenna) that allow for delicious textures that sound at once modern and very nostalgic.”
“This is the music of the country fair, the slightly off-kilter roller coaster, the barker asking passers-by to test their strength. It is like cotton candy: big, colorful and sticks to your face.” (Andrey Henkin All About Jazz.com)

“...anything but flat.”
“Richly textured, subtly nuanced and built on multiple layers of melody...”
(Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune)

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