According to many enthusiasts, Kaoru Abe's late period (he passed in September '78) is a mixed bag of experimental pursuits, administered on guitar, piano and harmonica, and not always successful. Here, mere months before his death, we hear him in tandem with long-time sparring partner Yoshisaburo "Sabu" Toyozumi on drums and percussion. These previously unheard recordings throw a different light on Abe's coda, showing him to still be in possession of much fire and agility.

The liner notes make much of the pair's quieter moments, and there are indeed long stretches of lyricism with soft thump and ring accompanying, something I'd not heard a lot of on previous recordings. Seeing as the "tunes" here are named for the artist's mothers, this would seem appropriate. Elsewhere though, Abe's sound is so sandblasted that notes disappear through overblown insistence. The opening salvo is a good example, with Abe spitting out shriek and sputter alongside Sabu's fusillade. It's been said that Kaoru Abe was a difficult partner, but here he plays with an open ear and sympathy for the rhythms and breaks of the drums. This might just be as good a place as any to investigate his music if you are unfamiliar with it. Lithuanian label NoBusiness has a nice catalog of freer jazz offerings, including another volume of recordings from this duo.