The Squid's Ear
Writing about improvised, contemporary, experimental and unusual music,
following the activities of Squidco...
  •  •  •     Join Our Mailing List!



The Squid's Ear




Heard In

Reviews of artist releases:
cd's, books, magazines, &c.


  Ivo Perelman / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey 
  Truth Seeker
  (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!)) 


  
   review by Ken Waxman
  2024-06-05
Ivo Perelman / Mark Helias / Tom Rainey: Truth Seeker (Listen! Foundation (Fundacja Sluchaj!))

The Energizer Bunny of Free Jazz, Brazilian tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman seems to have unbeatable stamina for almost infinite improvisations. Unlike the monotonous drum-beats of the cartoon Leporidae however, Perelman's playing encompasses constant invention and revelation as he's demonstrated on more than 100 albums.

Truth Seeker's seven selections find the saxophonist in one of his favorite configuration, shaping sounds with a bassist and drummer. Considering bassist Mark Helias and drummer Tom Rainey are on almost as many sessions as Perelman communication is optimal.

Rainey's fluid drumming is restrained and subtle. Rim shots, foreshortened cymbal shakes and distant rumbles punctuate his narratives. Helias' string elaborations anchor with moderated slides or use penetrating jabs to challenge Perelman. There's even a point on "Ubiquitous Light" where Helias' measured lope and Rainey's shuffle hit a groove that for a time edges the saxophonist into straight-ahead playing until finally reverting to clangorous squalls, watery growls and tongue stops.

From the get-go Perelman's playing includes expanded note bending, repetitive phrasing, lowing scoops and passage pitches that continuously elevate to banshee-like shrillness, Creativity is so pronounced on a track like "Spiritual Growth" with its reed feints, detours, stops and corkscrew vibrations that it could be a demonstration record of extended saxophone techniques.

Nonetheless, on that track and elsewhere, the saxophonist has the self-control to suddenly limit his overblowing, downshift to linear expositions and intersect with the others' textures. That's also why, unlike the imaginary rabbit's interchangeable drum banging in each commercial, every Perelman disc offers new variations on his evolving exploration of saxophone improvisation.







Comments and Feedback:



More Recent Reviews, Articles, and Interviews @ The Squid's Ear...


The Squid's Ear presents
reviews about releases
sold at Squidco.com
written by
independent writers.

Squidco

Recent Selections @ Squidco:


Eliane Radigue:
Asymptote Versatile (
1963-64)
(Amgen Records)



Ivo Perelman/
Nate Wooley:
Polarity 4
(Burning Ambulance Music)



Joe McPhee:
Defiant Jazz:
a Joe McPhee Taster
[VINYL]
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)



Armaroli/
Piccolo/
Sharp:
Imaginary Songbook
[2 CDs]
(Dodicilune)



Eva Novoa Trio (
w/ Daniel Carter/
Francisco Mela):
The Freedom Suite,
Vol. 2
(577 Records)



Eva Novoa Trio (
w/ Carter/
Mela):
The Freedom Suite,
Vol. 2
[VINYL]
(577 Records)



Fieldwork (
Iyer/
Lehman/
Sorey):
Thereupon
(Pi Recordings)



Fieldwork (
Iyer/
Lehman/
Sorey):
Thereupon
[VINYL]
(Pi Recordings)



Dan Weiss (
w/ Evans/
Okazaki/
Brennan):
Unclassified Affections
(Pi Recordings)



Dan Weiss (
w/ Evans/
Okazaki/
Brennan):
Unclassified Affections
[VINYL 2 LPs]
(Pi Recordings)



Fujii/
Tamura/
Yoshida/
Takeharu:
Burning Wick
(Libra)



Ken Vandermark:
October Flowers for Joe McPhee
(Corbett vs. Dempsey)



Pat Thomas:
Hikmah
(Tao Forms)



Pat Thomas:
Hikmah
[VINYL w/ DOWNLOAD]
(Tao Forms)



Russ Lossing:
Proximity Alert
(Blaser Music)



Natural Information Society (
Abrams/
Alvarado/
Avery/
Stein):
Perseverance Flow
(AGUIRRE RECORDS)



Ohad Talmor w/Chris Tordini/
Eric Mcpherson + Guests:
Back To The Land
[2 CDs]
(Intakt)



Nathan Clevenger Group:
Astrolabe
(Queen Bee Records)



Donny McCaslin:
Lullaby For
The Lost
[VINYL]
(Editions)



Don Cherry/
Krzysztof Penderecki:
Actions
[VINYL 180g]
(Intuition)







Squidco
Click here to
advertise with
The Squid's Ear






The Squid's Ear pays its writers.
Interested in becoming a reviewer?




The Squid's Ear is the companion magazine to the online music shop Squidco !


  Copyright © Squidco. All rights reserved. Trademarks. (6137)