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
Facebook: Squidco Sales



Heard In

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


  Trevor Watts and Stephen Grew Duo 
  All There Is
  (Discus) 


  
   review by Marc Medwin
  2018-08-09
Trevor Watts and Stephen Grew Duo: All There Is (Discus)

It begins as do so many albums of so-called improvised music, slamming into gear at high-speed, both musicians blazing trails around each other at a pace far outstripping the ear's ability to follow, let alone the mind's to comprehend. Yet, that space is not the one saxophonist Trevor Watts and pianist Stephen Grew inhabit for long; the depths they plumb and the diversity with which they achieve maximum effect comprise just two of the ingredients making this trip through the improviser's orbit such a pleasant and exciting one.

Unpredictability is the session's watchword, a blessing for the poor writer far too often subjected to high-energy and low-contrast aimlessness foisted on listeners in the name of freedom. About halfway through "Shepherd's Return," there is a sudden decrease in activity as the back-and-forth conversational style of what might be called British improv is highlighted, slows and stops. Suddenly, the preparations in Grew's piano become more apparent, and equally suddenly, Watt's masterful responses to the four-note figures Grew repeats stand out in stark relief. Watts slides into a stunning display of syncopation, motivic development and phrase delivery that could be an encyclopedia entry for younger improvisers to study. The two begin to toy with scale, blending and contrasting harmony as leaves sprout from a tree and with equal malleability.

The rest of the album follows suit. Listen to the first sustained pitch Watts deftly inserts into the quartal and clusteral sonorities Grew's laying down as he builds his "Tunnels." Listen to the snapped B-flat with which Grew echoes Watt's second pitch, an absolute masterstroke of a response delivered as the sudden spark only intuition can ignite. Move to the gravitas of Watts' minor soliloquy opening "They're All Home," with its respectful nods toward silence, and feel the full impact of Grew's subtle and complete command of the piano's insides. The disc is a wondrous mixture of topic and texture, of technique and plain old soul. This is improvised music that speaks as much to the heart as to the head, and it demonstrates the fruitful relationship fostered by this intergenerational duo.







Comments and Feedback:



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

Squidco

Recent Selections @ Squidco:


Berlin Art Quartet (
Schubert /
Bauer /
Muller /
Bruggemann):
Live At MIM
(Unisono Records)



Jimmy Lyons:
Rivbea Live! Series,
Volume 3
(NoBusiness)



Erik Klinga:
Elusive Shimmer
(thanatosis produktion)



Das B (
Mazen Kerbaj /
Mike Majkowski /
Magda Mayas /
Tony Buck):
Love
(thanatosis produktion /
Corbett Vs Dempsey)



Brass Clouds:
Escape Vessels
(Bathysphere Records)



Fire! Orchestra:
Echoes
[2 CDs]
(Rune Grammofon)



Sophie Agnel /
John Edwards /
Steve Noble:
Three On A Match
(Otoroku)



Satoko Fujii
This is It! (
w/
Natsuki Tamura /
Takashi Itani):
Message
(Libra)



Sorry For Laughing (
G. Whitlow /
M. Bates /
Dave-Id /
E. Ka-Spel):
Rain Flowers
[2 CDS]
(Klanggalerie)



New Origin (
feat. Christoph Rocher /
Joe Fonda /
Harvey Sorge):
The Poet Walks
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Simon Nabatov:
Agree to Disagree
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Von Schlippenbach, Alexander /
Barry Altschul Quartet w/
Joe Fonda &
Rudi Mahal:
Free Flow
[2 CDs]
(Listen! Foundation (
Fundacja Sluchaj!))



Thelonious Monk with
Sonny Rollins:
1953 To 1957
Revisited
(ezz-thetics by
Hat Hut Records
Ltd)



Daniel Carter /
Ayumi Ishito /
George Draguns /
Ed Wilcox:
Makeshift Spirituals
(577 Records)



Kory Reeder:
Homestead
(Another Timbre)



John Cage:
Chamber Works 1943-1951
(Another Timbre)



Josh Sinton:
Couloir &
Book Of Practitioners
Vol. 2
Book "W"
[2 CDs]
(FiP recordings)



Elliott Sharp /
Scott Fields:
Reimsi Geara
(Relative Pitch)



KnCurrent (
Brennan /
Cooper-Moore /
Davis /
Hwang):
KnCurrent
(Deep Dish)



Biota:
Measured Not Found
(Recommended Records)







Squidco









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


  Copyright © Squidco. All rights reserved. Trademarks. (4023)