Radical masters of free jazz--Spanish pianist Agusti Fernandez and British bassist Barry Guy--meet young(er) radical trumpeter Peter Evans at the Moscow Cultural Center DOM for this 2017 concert of free improvisation, a fiery and informed concert of two sets, each in three parts, and an encore, showing technical mastery, inventive interaction, and sheer excitement in performance.
Format: CD Condition: New Released: 2018 Country: Poland Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold Recorded at Dom Cultural Center, in Moscow, Russia, on November 6th, 2017, by Maxim Khaikin.
"The energy of making music and abstract thinking. And very quick, mutual reactions, thanks to close, accurate listening. Sometimes I am surprised by how we are oriented to each other and how quickly, we make decisions to each other, change the direction and form of music for a fraction of a second. Incredible music!
The above words by Agustí Fernández - articulated during the interview, which will be available in a moment on the pages of Jazzarium.pl - are certainly enough for the entire review of the album Free Radicals at DOM .
Another unprecedented meeting of two musical brothers, said pianist and Barry Guy, here also made with the participation of Peter Evans, who feels great in the company of both older colleagues. We perfectly remember the EFG trio (the third one was of course Mats Gustafsson), and also a tasty duet with Barry on last year's album Syllogistic Moments . We do not forget, of course, about the participation of all three of the larger squads usually led by the British bassist.
Now, after all, we are moving to the Moscow Cultural Center DOM. It is the beginning of November 2017. Peter Evans on the trumpet, Agusti Fernandez on the piano and Barry Guy on the double bass. The concert included on the CD Free Radicals At DOM (Fundacja Słuchło !, 2018) consists of two sets and an encore, here on the album, divided into seven separate parts. It will take 68 minutes and 22 seconds.
One . The concert is born in the depths of the prepared piano, with a ballad pizzicato double bass and a small trumpet, for now, deeply hidden under the black cloak. The musicians start a slow march towards the land of happiness of the listeners, including the reviewer. A warm-up, which after a short while becomes a state of fluent narrative. From the start, the musicians communicate with each other, we do not see any default entities on the stage. Trio, like a team of simultaneous reactions - eruptions, volleys and thunder. Parallel imitations, meticulous retorts. A masterful descent into the silence and equally impressive jumps into space, all thanks to invisible signaling. In addition, fabulous instrumental technique and compulsive imagination. Dramatically organized freedom of improvisation, subjected here to permanent change. Volts of energy and passages of balladizing post-jazz.
Two . Singing piano preparations and classical for Guy struggling with the glaze of strong strings - such a duo to start with. The trumpeter enters after 90 seconds, in small steps, standing on the squares. The three of them draw unique neat scribbles . An exotic keyboard dance, a ludic bow and a cloak of noise in the valves. Another imitations, collegial repetitions, flowers in your hair. By the way, the dynamics of the entire narrative worthy of free jazz classics. In the 9th minute Evans falls silent again, takes a breath, lets his partners go to the catwalk, then returns, sensually biting between the double bass strings. After another two minutes a new tale: the trumpet rhythmically snorts, the bass prepares from the bottom of the baroque , in the background quiet keys - a new, beautiful and exceptionally calm situation on the stage. After a while, the musicians release their senses from the gentleness cocoon and return without undue delay to the main, still gusty stream of the concert. On the decay, the power of liberated chamber music.
Three . Piano and trumpet in search of the complete unity of time and space. The double bass enters the thunder. A little game of silence and dramatic suspension. Small harmonies and shreds of melody on the bar, from the valve, on warm keys. After a moment of gallop, the musicians again enter the state of free chamber music and with the sapper's precision they are looking for the last sound.
Four . It seems that one sound is enough to find an understanding with your partner. After two sounds a telepathic bond is born, and after three it becomes one musical body. An example of compulsive dance over the abyss. A sticky, wonderful story that can not be tamed. Emotions spurt from every side of the stage, real fury! And what stopping! ??
Five . Agusti prepares the piano while at the same time practicing her throat before the expected attack of a convulsive cough. Prychy and jerks right next to it. Evans hisses through the vents and pulls his colleagues to psychedelic mischief. But here everyone has a handful of their ideas - action, reaction, cassation! Conversations on the sun-scorched fire. Then the dialogue of the trumpet and double bass, again with a hint of melody. But also preparations and sharp sonorities, and volcanic eruptions, and waterfalls of sweat and blood! And the episode finale is again a reverie, dark spot of chamber music.
Six . A double-bass introduction! Single shots from under the piano lid, gurgling valves. Dygot of drum sticks, pushed in between the strings. Guy's masterpiece ! The power of mysterious sounds from every side of the stage, although it's almost a solo contrabass. Melodious commentary of the trumpet, deep foam preparations. The most unusual part of the concert - repetitions, imitations, but also brazen plots. They come out of this beautiful, creative chaos together, effectively seeking lost harmony and melodic bites. Opus magnum for the finale of the main part of the concert.
Encore . Jumping on the rope, frivolous convulsions, spectacular amplitudes of the trumpet. A dance step for the well-deserved golden fleece and the highest review of the reviewer! A handful of small, fun Evans passes, strings and piano in a twisted rhythm. Imitations and fireworks at a gallop. Well, a few seconds' ovation!"-Tribune of Spontaneous Music (translated by Google)