spi-raling horn
Irritable Mystic, 2024
9/10
Jason Stein (bass clarinet), Marilyn Crispell (piano), Damon Smith (double bass) and Adam Shead (drums) bring their respective talents to 7 daring and atypical free jazz tunes here, and it makes for a lasting impression via their spontaneous ways.
“A Song Paid By Singing” leads with Stein’s flowing bass clarinet, as Shead’s animated drums enter the dizzying jazz landscape, and “A Universe Of Otherwise” follows with the lively wind meshing alongside Crispell’s playful key bouts.
The middle belongs to “Saturant Moon Water” and “So Close It Cut My Ribs”, where the former leads with a sort of ‘found objects’ tinkering before a distinct dreaminess enter, while the latter cultivates intimate beauty via the pretty piano and warm clarinet.
The final track, “A Rusted Bell’s Clank”, then gets quite busy, nearly furious, and allows for Smith’s well timed double bass to complement the controlled chaos.
The quartet turn improvised jazz into a refined science here, and every unexpected twist and turn will be enjoyed immensely.
Travels well with: Stein/Smith/Shead- Hum; Stein/Smith/Shead- Volumes & Surfaces