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Jim Pugliese: Live @ Issue Project Room NYC
Perhaps even more pertinent to the Phase III project, Pugliese has intensely studied African music tradition. "Kundo" is, in fact, from the repertoire of Nii Tettey Tetteh, the Ghanaian master musician that Pugliese cites as a mentor and major influence. All the instrumentssax (Michael Attias), guitar (Marco Cappelli), bass (Kato Hideki) and drums (Christine Bard as well as Pugliese)interlock and flow, revealing layers of music that erase concepts like background and foreground or primary and secondary melodies.
"Fresh," an original by the leader, also displays the ensemble synergy that starts with an angular unison line and develops into a funky groove over which Cappelli wails. The groove drops out while the intense dialogue continues, the mind-blowing, cathartic lines of sax and over-driven electric guitar melding together in a way that blur the difference between them. Then, pow, the rhythm section re-enters, changing the texture from a rolling boil to an ominous simmer. But not for long. The screaming sax-guitar rejoins to make this twisted sonic car ride go until the last unison line puts on the breaks, leaving only the smell of burning rubber.
"Slipped" and "New Cued," also the leader's originals, might display more of the Cage influence with contrasting sections (sometimes only lasting seconds) of very loud fusillades of notes, then silence, then atmospheric drones, then an ending on a power chord. It's all here. Hypnotic grooves, noise, stop-on-a-dime unison lines, blistering free jazz and then one of the most tender and sincere moments the Downtown scene has ever offered. "Kariga Mombe" is performed by Pugliese alone, singing and playing the mbira (African thumb piano), and it not only serves as a touching last track to this amazing CD but also as beautiful tribute to the leader's father, who passed away only days before this concert was recorded.
Track Listing
Phased and Confused; Kundo; Fresh; New Cued; Intro and Paradiso; Slipped; Flakey Funky #1; Calhaitian; Kariga Mombe.
Personnel
Jim Pugliese
percussionJim Pugliese: percussion, conduction, mbira, drums; Michael Attias: alto sax; Christine Bard: drums, conga; Marco Cappelli: electric guitar; Kato Hideki: electric bass; Marc Ribot: guitar (1,2, 4-8).
Album information
Title: Live @ Issue Project Room NYC | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: improvvvisatoreinvolontario
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About Jim Pugliese
Instrument: Percussion
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