Shoup/Makihara/Arnold - Confluxus

Wally Shoup / Toshi Makihara / Brent Arnold
Confluxus
Leo 399

There’s something about the sound of an alto sax and cello. I don’t know which Julius Hemphill record I first heard that matched him up with cellist Abdul Wadud; Dogon A.D. (with drummer Philip Wilson) on those wonderfully plentiful Arista Freedom LP’s in the 70’s, or Raw Materials and Residuals on Black Saint with JAH looking like a badass Mr. Clean and Famoudou Don Moye on drums. Either way, after hearing those monsters the hook was set; anything that had that combination was grabbed up quickly. Tim Berne and Hank Roberts Cause and Reflect, got it; David Eyges, Byard Lancaster & Sunny Murray on Crossroads, bingo; Clusone Trio, whoa baby!!

Sixty year old saxist Wally Shoup has been active in numerous free jazz scenes since 1970, beginning in Colorado (where he was determined to forcibly shake some atonal life into the John Denver scene) , and ultimately moving to Seattle in 1985. He and cellist Brent Arnold were members of Part W, a trio which received critical acclaim following its self-titled release on the Apraxia label in 1996. Subsequently, he received a higher degree of exposure through performances with Thurston Moore, including Hurricane Floyd in 2000 with drummer Toshi Makihara.

This trio, captured live on Sonarchy Radio in the Pacific Northwest on July 26, 2003, is a challenging and entertaining mix of collaborative efforts. The songs range from full blown cacophony, but with a discernible germ of logical structure buried within (“Two Breaths Away” and “Joyride”), to plaintive explorations through understated themes (“Inside Straight”) that are far more than mere resting places from which to gather strength for the next sensory assault (“Convergence for Three”). And that’s just the first four songs!! Although this is the trio’s first recorded effort they obviously work and play together very well. Sax and cello fans get thee hence!

~Steve Griffith