Clarinet Factory & Alan Vitouš - Out of Home (2010)

Over the time of its existence, Clarinet Factory (formerly the Czech Clarinet Quartet) has covered a great deal of ground, from tradition – classical and jazz through ethnic and Minimalism – to their own creation. In addition to appearing at numerous significant international festivals, the ensemble has reached other momentous milestones: victory in the International Songwriting Competition 2005 (USA, with the members of the jury including Tom Waits and Jerry Lee Lewis), concerts with Bobby McFerrin, the fascinating Eternal Seekers crossover project with Lenka Dusilová and Beata Hlavenková, not to mention an inspiring tour of Senegal with the jazz singer Jana Koubková, film and ballet music and encounters with Alan Vitouš, which are also featured on this CD.

Every experience marks and recasts, from a few bars of Dvorák’s New World Symphony to hip-hop in the street... The leitmotif is seeking, the journey a destination in itself. A gamut of rhythms and colours without the use of electronic instruments, here and there enlivened by a string quartet, finely spiced with Lenka Dusilová’s vocals... Isn’t it about time we stopped thinking about definitions and categories and started enjoying a journey to an unknown place, Out of Home?