A live recording from Quezon City, Philippines of the free improvising trio of Sabu Toyozumi on drums, Rick Countryman on alto saxophone, and Simon Tan on acoustic bass, bring the first generation Japanese free improviser together with some of the Philippines' brightest free players for two extended improvisations of lyrical excursions and solid and often surprising rhythmic response.
Label: ChapChap Records Catalog ID: CPCD-012 Squidco Product Code: 26154
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2018 Country: Japan Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold Recorded live in Quezon City, Philippines, on August 12th, 2017, by Alvin Cornista.
" ...And that's what's happening here. Sabu Toyozumi's elliptical, adventurous, logical, sonic, lyrical, detailed and extremely refined play allows her two companions to express the best of themselves. All his free improvisational experience is involved in beautifying the music of Simon Tan and Rick Countryman, to vivify it. A deep, basic double bassist, Tan tells a beautiful story in "Bystander" (17:26) by vibrating the notes of his melody over the drummer's scattered friselis and bearings.
In the very long "Center of Contradiction" (36:37), Countryman reigns the ribbon of his warm improvisations in a universe close to Oliver Lake, Julius Hemphill etc ...by varying at best effects, cadences, intervals with an appreciable sound. Sabu Toyozumi plays perfectly with great sensitivity and a rare and refined sense of freedom, a model of its kind. There is a real human density, an empathic relationship, a true communication: listening, depth of views, respect, commitment. Jazz music is essentially collective and this aspect of things is magnified here. A very beautiful album."-Jean-Michel Van Schouwburg