Carter / Colbourne / Flaherty

A Flash In The Sky

Label: Glass Museum Country: USA

"It's hard to sell free jazz to an unsuspecting public (let's face it . . . most people 'still' think it means you get in without paying ). Especially when you claim that the music being presented is not only hard core wall to wall improvising , but is really very beautiful as well. A Flash In The Sky (Daniel Carter and Paul Flaherty on saxes with Randall Colbourne on drums) stands as testament that improvised music, performed 'live' by 3 life-long devotees of the purely free approach, can stand powerfully and beautifully next to any and all musical forms. No excuses . . . this is radiant free jazz, performed from the heart with extreme passion. The music uses transforming, ever- spontaneous themes and harmonies provided by the two free-jazz sax masters, revolving seamlessly around the intensely warm pulsating out-jazz legendary drums of Randall Colbourne. This is very strong, natural sounding music. Each player is eventually featured as breakdowns into duos occur seamlessly, reawakening as trio explosions and swooping dances that re-define the potential heat of the sax and drum possibilities. Recorded live in June of 2008 in Peterborough, NH at the Thing in the Spring, this trio recording stands tall as proof that free jazz is not only still alive and kickin' after 50 years of existence, but that it's taking on all critics who claim it doesn't have the artistic weight of it's fellow musical forms. For those who still want to question the potential legitimacy of all out, heartfelt, free-form jazz, this record has to be reckoned with."-Damien Perdition