Label: Intakt Records, 2020
Personnel - Ingrid Laubrock: tenor and soprano saxophones; Kris Davis: piano.
Two of the most admired improvisers and composers of our times - saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and pianist Kris Davis - join forces in a full-fledged duo session that sparkles with creativity and maturity. The program includes nine tracks - four by Laubrock, three by Davis and two completely improvised - that conjure a broad variety of timbres, moods and textures. Most of them were penned specifically for this record, which showcases the incredible musical understanding between these musicians.
Davis’ “Snakes and Lattice” launches the proceedings and provides a happily modern, amiable trippy spin with spot-on synchronism, spectacular pointillism and coiled chains. At an early stage, Laubrock deliberately embraces pleasant melody, eliciting the standard “Lover Man” to pop into my head. This ephemeral moment evolves into a fusion of classical and avant-garde music where the cool attacks of the pianist send us over the moon.
Laubrock’s “Blood Moon” lures us into its microtonal narratives. Relatable on an emotive level, this is a mainly reflective piece created with elasticity in timbre and a laid-back posture. Tradition is pulled into this orbit, yet the duo digs deeper for a little while, delving into an immersive risk-taking atmosphere.
The saxophonist infuses “Whistlings” with turns and jumps, making it a free rhythmic dance. There are arresting unisons and fragmented episodes full of life and color.
The discrepancy between “Flying Embers” and “Golgi Complex” are noticeable, yet both came from Davis’ creative mind. The former is a low-key, sometimes ethereal exercise on intangibility with sustained sounds and long notes, while the latter, drawn from the pianist’s latest album Diatom Ribbons, appears with a new outfit. In addition to the advanced language spoken throughout, we have an energizing groovy section by the end.
Just like the previously described piece, Laubrock’s soprano inundates “Gunweep”, a duo improvisation where she blows with bracing expression, agile technique, and a fair amount of charm. Davis' whirling vertigo is the perfect foil for this type of phrasing. It comes out of the right reaches of the keyboard and it's complemented with deep chordal sequences drowned in smart extensions.
What I really fancied about this work was the fact that it avoids the oversaturation and convoluted sonic vortexes commonly associated with the avant-garde jazz. The dynamics are more polished in a way, and the comfortable transitions occur with logic, being extremely pleasant to the ear. Both Laubrock and Davis boast a brilliantly-earned self-sufficiency in their playing. They also do wonders whenever their attractive sounds cross paths.
Grade A-
Favorite Tracks:
01 - Snakes and Lattice ► 02 - Blood Moon ► 03 - Gunweep