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  John Butcher / Florian Stoffner / Chris Corsano 
  The Glass Changes Shape
  (Relative Pitch) 


  
   review by Ken Waxman
  2025-01-28
John Butcher / Florian Stoffner / Chris Corsano: The Glass Changes Shape (Relative Pitch)

Enhancing the intense collaboration of their on-again/off-again trio, British tenor and soprano saxophonist John Butcher, Swiss guitarist Florian Stoffner and percussionist Chris Corsano layer carefully structured timbral positions and heightened sound projections on these nine tracks.

Balancing the unexpected with the unique, Butcher's split tone buzzes, Stoffner's positioned stokes and Corsano's restrained pacing intensify the connective action but rarely raise pitches or tempos. At the same time if advancement calls for vitality, action is goosed with harsh reed gurgles, spikey guitar string slashes and resonating drum crashes. Further distinguishing the interaction are tracks like "Terminal Buzz" and "Homer's Lizard", when Corsano appends bird-like twitters, pennywhistle-like peeps or horizontal buzzes from his half clarinet. Not only do those tones intersect with Butcher's note-bending vibrations, but they also augment the narratives with an intermittent backing drone. Faux electronic oscillations in an acoustic setting, the sounds judder alongside the drummer continuing cadences with understated clanks and pops.

Butcher's multiphonics and circular breathing on the extended "Hidden Bell" puts a defining stamp on the program. Alternating scooped strains and supple trills, he highlights the band's duality and development. Backed by string frails that pile note upon note with almost no separation and rim shot clips help direct triple sounds into a concentrated conclusion.

Three of the busiest improvisers involved with jazz, free, notated music and avant-rock, the trio members' playing on this disc proves that a musical glass can change shape to advantage if filled with the right ingredients. Perhaps it will be decanted again.







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