Label: Relative Pitch Records, 2021
Personnel - Gregg Belisle-Chi: acoustic guitar.
Tackling the compositional intricacies of alto saxophonist Tim Berne on the acoustic guitar is definitely a huge challenge. But that circumstance didn’t intimidate the guitarist/composer Gregg Belisle-Chi, who, catching the excitement of Berne’s language, put his own artistic stamp on ten of his pieces. Due to the nature of his instrument, part of that language is retained and part is remodeled within new harmonic contexts. The album was mixed and mastered by David Torn, another guitarist and expert sound manipulator who knows Berne’s music very well.
With a memorable riff as an inspiration, “Chance” is soaked in brainy harmonic clusters at the same time that employs a combination of tense, spacious and dreamy tones. This piece was culled from Berne/Mitchell duo album Angel Dusk, just like “Reception” and “Starfish Blues”. The former boasts a melody that speaks for itself, while the latter takes the blues to another dimension. Yet, it doesn’t match the exquisiteness of “Middle Seat Blues”, which evolves beautifully until it reaches a grandiose, final climactic chord that is complemented with a trio of tapped harmonics.
Feeling more overtly abstract and ruminative, “Giant Squids” employs logic pointillism, metric complexity and staccato brilliance over the course of its labyrinthine path.
“Huh/Brokelyn”, retrieved from Hardcell’s 2005 album Feign, flows with incredibly affable melodies and chords that explore tone and drama with a sense of mystery, whereas “Huevos”, the opening piece of the 2002 Science Friction album, exudes a subtle sophistication affiliated with both erudite classical musings and contemporary tone poems.
In a coruscating positive form, Belisle-Chi often crosses the line between instinctive delicacy and bemusement. It’s all done architecturally and with honesty.
Grade B
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Chance ► 05 - Huh/Brokelyn ► 06 - Middle Seat Blues