Unclosing
Out Of Your Head, 2023
8/10
A collective band that includes Tomas Fujiwara, Mary Halvorson, Taylor Ho Bynum, and Benoît Delbecq, as Illegal Crowns they make for a highly avant-garde and improv based version of jazz with these 9 unpredictable tracks.
“Crooked Frame” opens the listen with Delbecq’s warm piano and Fujiwara’s light drumming, as intricate guitar enters the rhythmic delivery, and “Unclosing” follows with a soft atmosphere of elegant keys, gentle percussion and soulful brass.
In the middle, the intimate ambience of “Fading Wave” makes for a mesmerizing climate that builds into cinematic exploration, while “Osmosis Crown” makes great use of Halvorson’s meticulous guitar patterns that builds into a fuller, jazz fueled execution.
The last two tracks are among the best, where the artistic horn from Bynum aligns with low drumming for a bit of mystery in “Les mots et les choses”, and “Soul Of The Frey” exits with a dreamy expanse of subtle guitar, mature piano, soulful brass and brushed drums.
A very modern effort that balances the inimitable talents of the 4 players, there isn’t a second here that’s not exciting, memorable and articulate in an atypical, free jazz sort of way.
Travels well with: Matt Mitchell- Oblong Aplomb; George- Letters To George