In the spring of 2004, Hatology released of Tales Out of Time, a much-anticipated meeting between Joe McPhee and Peter Brötzmann. Studio-born, with a surprising emphasis on balladic material, it’s often the disc Brötzophiles point to as proof of the reed masticator’s tender side. As first rate as the date is, the promise of an extended full-bore exchange between the two principals went largely unfulfilled. Visceral in title and content, Guts serves as the donnybrook flipside to Tales comparative studio civility. Both men have a respectable cache of horns from their respective stockpiles. The rhythm team of bassist Kent Kessler and Michael Zerang recognizes where the spotlight rests while retaining assertiveness. Collectively, they turn the Empty Bottle into a Molotov cocktail for the better part of an hour.
Strangely enough, the title piece opens not with a horn cloudburst, but with a drum solo, Zerang building velocity and density until Brötzmann and McPhee arrive like Gargantua and Pantagruel on a grog-fueled bender. They pepper their ensuing tenor tandem with scalding multiphonics and overblowing, stirring up typhoon gusts before scaling back into an interlude of lush horn harmonizing that echoes the somber demeanor favored on Tales. Drums and bass soon converge on a trampoline groove and the tenors return to another exchange of volleys, this time tapping a boisterous R&B vein. Even amongst all the embouchure-flexing brio, each main retains a startling awareness of the other, blending aggression with acuity and anticipating each other’s moves.
After the two-tenor temerity of the opening improv, the significantly longer “Rising Spirits” initially feels anticlimactic. A blanket of drones constructed from bowed metal and strings drifts into another section of textured tones held by clarinet and trumpet. These components narrow to a blood-drawing arco bass solo and an extended dialogue between trumpet and tarogato that veers from strident to lyrical and back. Kessler and Zerang cobble a dub-inflected duo interlude, priming the audience for nearly twenty more minutes of ferocious saxophone bliss that culminates in a glorious convergence on the funereal theme to “Master of a Small House”, Brötzmann’s poignant dirge for bassist Fred Hopkins. It’s a predictable move, but one that pays off handsomely in the vibrato-etched heights the two tenors scale.
One of the most appealing facets of conclaves such as this is the palpable catharsis that comes with hearing two doyens blow their hearts out. Brötzmann and McPhee don’t disappoint in this regard, ensuring that their audience is properly satiated in the wake of their roof-rattling exhortations. Semi-regular gigs with the Scandinavian power trio The Thing have been part of McPhee’s performance docket for years. His like-minded work here with Brötzmann makes me pine for a similar periodic reunion schedule for the two, preferably with Kessler and Zerang in tow.
~ Derek Taylor
Posted by derek on May 30, 2007 3:37 PMnot an area of music I have any interest in these days, but it's a huge oversight to not mention that these tracks were recorded by Malachi Ritscher, and I believe the record was titled in tribute to him (according to Bruce Gallanter, I don't see confirmation on the web, but it makes sense).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malachi_Ritscher
Posted by: jon abbey at May 30, 2007 4:40 PMJon is right but, I think even he might not hate this if he heard it.
It is a pretty stellar combination that brings out some really interesting and not so typical things from all four players.
This quartet just played in Israel.
Jon, when/if we start up a Bags oversight committee, you’ll be the first one invited to join- I’m sure the job will keep you very busy. Yes, Ritscher was the engineer on the set (as he is on much of the Okka catalog) & yes, the disc is a tribute to him (McPhee pens a passionate poem to his memory in the liners). I decided to focus on the music though. Sorry if that focus seems unwarranted. Considering your general aversion to saxophones, I’d say this one for you to steer clear of.
Damon, I'm happy to hear about that gig in Israel, hopefully there will be more forthcoming.
Posted by: derek at May 31, 2007 5:48 AMit was in fact a huge oversight, Derek, no need to be snide about it. you can focus on the music and still mention what you just did, see how easy that was?
Posted by: jon abbey at May 31, 2007 5:58 AMOh man, here we go. Who’s being snide? And what’s “factual” about your assertion? The information is not that hard to come by & will be increasingly so as other reviews of the disc appear in print & online. It’s the easiest “angle” to take when writing up the set & I chose not to. Simple as that. No slight meant toward the memory of Ritchser or the musicians' intentions.
Damon, could you please expand on what you feel is not typical about the playing on the disc.
Posted by: derek at May 31, 2007 6:14 AMI think they are able to combine a refined sense of texture and interaction with free jazz energy.
It might be the group that gets the closest to Brötzmann's solo
esthetic.
I think it is the right setting for Kessler and Zerang. McPhee is always great.
I hear what you’re saying. Brötzmann sometimes gets hammered as a player who doesn’t pay attention to his partners, not so in this particular case. McPhee seems to bring out the best of his melodic/interactive side & there are spots where the harmonies they create are achingly beautiful; McPhee coming from a gospel and blues perspective and Brötz bringing facets of Eastern European and North African folk forms. With you too on Kessler and Zerang, they strike a terrific balance between momentum and detail. On the other hand, the texture-based start to “Rising Spirits” didn’t work as well for me. Overall though, this is an excellent companion piece to Tales Out of Time and I truly hope there are more releases from the quartet in the works.
Posted by: derek at May 31, 2007 1:51 PMyeah it's a good quartet. don't really think i need the cd, little chance i'll listen to it much, but their two gigs here were really good. especially McPhee had some great solos.
as far as recent Okka Disk stuff goes, what's up w/this one: http://www.okkadisk.com/releases/odl10010.html
?
off topic - can anybody forward me jason bivins email address? thanks
ww
Posted by: weasel walter at June 1, 2007 9:36 AM"not an area of music I have any interest in these days"
"not an area of music I have any interest in these days"
"not an area of music I have any interest in these days"
I had no idea! You are usually so private about these matters. I can't stop laughing. Always entertaining. Derek, you must be strapped down, well done!
While we are off-topic. Anyone reading this in Berlin and heading to the Brotzmann Tentet show in Cottbus? My wife and I are itching to go and were figuring on taking the train and the more the merrier but it looks like the last train is around 10p.
Weasel, I just emailed you.
Posted by: Jason at June 1, 2007 11:24 AMIs that Grisha from Tel Aviv? Awesome! You should get that cd, you will like it.
The Brötzmann/Sharrock duo is really good. Sort of relaxed, but good listening and playing together.
I look forward to hearing this.
Recently they were on tour in Europe, and may still be so. Would be a good gig to catch, I'll bet!
Posted by: clifford at June 3, 2007 4:29 PMno, that's another Grisha.
Posted by: grisha at July 9, 2007 9:20 AM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................