VISION FESTIVAL 22 - DAY 5 - at JUDSON CHURCH - NYC, jun 2
- photography by © Clara Pereira / text by Filipe Freitas
//DAY 5//
Opening the fifth day, we had Chicago Plan, a quartet whose frontline encompasses German multi-reedist Gebhard Ullmann and American trombonist Steve Swell, the composers of the group. The rhythmic foundation was under the responsibility of Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello and electronics, and Michael Zerang on drums.
Using expansion/contraction techniques, they played tunes from their debut album, released this year on Clean Feed Records, including Swell’s “Composite #10” and Ullmann’s “Variations on a Master Plan”, parts 2 and 3.
The Dream Book project was put together by the saxophonist Joe McPhee, who also played a cool white trumpet in this double tribute to iconic saxist Ornette Coleman and bassist Dominic Duval. Besides two bassists, Dominic Duval Jr. and Larry Roland, the septet also features Daniel Carter on reeds, Rosie Hertlein on violin, Dom Minasi on guitar, and Jay Rosen on drums.
The extended first piece was inspired by Ornette’s 1967 “Forms and Sounds” and was conveniently entitled “New Forms New Sounds”. The structure comprised two distinct sections that were played alternately a couple of times before the individual solos by each member. The first section included guitar, violin, and bass, while horns and drums shaped the second. Before completing the whole cycle, the audience was marveled with the collective interaction that shook the church with electrifying exertion.
Experienced pianist Dave Burrell led a powerful quartet in a stentorian free session that revived John Coltrane in his spiritual phase. Responding to the spasmodic contortions of the pianist were the profuse 82-year-old tenor saxophonist Kidd Jordan, combative bassist William Parker, and drummer William Hooker, whose turbulent, unruly style was fundamental for the energy spreading. After the storm, the final atmosphere was of a prayerful perseverance.
Concluding the night, bassist Mark Helias, drummer Gerry Hemingway, and trombonist Ray Anderson, a rhythmically daring collective known as BassDrumBone, mounted tasteful grooves with impeccable coordination. In addition to three pieces from the 2011 album The Other Parade - Hemingway’s slightly Latinized “Show Tuck”, Helias’ bluesy-groovy “The Blue Light Down The Line”, and Anderson’s discursive title track – the trio also performed the swinging “At Another Time”, the cinematic “Lands’ End”, and the playfully brassy “Oh Yeah”, compositions by Hemingway, Helias, and Anderson, respectively, taken from last year’s double-CD The Long Road.