Wayne Peet Quartet - Live at Al's Bar

pfMENTUM 27

Over a decade ago, Wayne Peet snuck out a Nine Winds release entitled Fully Engulfed. Featuring the cosmically-inclined guitar tweaking of G.E. Stinson alongside Peet’s dense organ mashing and tight percussionist Lance Lee, it was part electric storm (nodding in the direction of Tony Williams’ Lifetime) and part distillation of LA improv’s omnivorous approach to genre. In what could almost be seen as a sequel, this live set from April 1999 features Peet (organ and organ bass) and G.E. Stinson (guitar and “mangled recordings”) returning, this time joined by second guitarist Nels Cline and drummer Russell Bizzett. Comprised of two long suites – taking in everything including furious jams, dense chamber breakdowns, and ethereal soundscaping – this is raging improv that covers a lot of ground. With swirling textures and hard-hitting grooves alike, this is powerful music that manages to be reflective even when at full tilt. Part of this is due to the improvisational acumen and good listening that goes on, yet it’s also because of Stinson’s somewhat cosmic presence (he and Cline play extremely well together, creating furious noise of the like heard on Stinson’s L. Stinkbug recordings). It’s far more about group sound than hot solos, particularly so on the episodic “Five Doors,” though everyone gets a chance to cut loose on the closing raveup “Inner Funkdom.” All in all, this is fine stuff from the West Coast, worth seeking out.