Ivo Perelman: The Seven Energies Of The Universe

Glenn Astarita

Senior Contributor since 1997

Longtime contributor to AAJ and Downbeat, Jazz Review, EjazzNews, Radio DirectX.

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Published: May 1, 2001

Hard blowing tenor saxophonist, Ivo Perelman sets The Seven Energies Of The Universe to music on this newly released production. Art critic Eleanor Heartney describes in the liners, “For Perelman, the experience of painting is very similar to the experience of making music”. Furthermore, Ms. Heartney approximates the abstract expressionism art movement with Perelman’s style of free jazz expressionism as the inferences to the “Seven Energies of the Universe” seemingly coalesce. Hence, art encircles life, philosophy, God, cosmic processes and other metaphysical notions.

Here, the saxophonist teams up with frequent collaborator, drummer Jay Rosen and pianist Joseph Scianni, as they polarize the Seven Energies: Passion, Fruition, Conversation, Living and Life, Maleness, Femaleness and Endlessness via passionate interplay and tempestuous statements. However, trying to get through all of this in one sitting demands patience! Even by free-jazz or avant-garde standards, this is a frenetic, all encompassing endeavor spearheaded by Perelman’s onslaught of wailing lines and plaintive cries, yet in certain instances it takes the artist quite awhile to hint at a melody or convey a tangible theme. Sure, Perelman is noted for his zealous phraseology and relentless attack, although when viewed upon as a whole, the trio’s somewhat bombastic performances can be a tad overwhelming and partially distracting.

Leo Records

Track Listing: Passion, Fruition, Conversation, Living and Life, Maleness, Femaleness and Endlessness

Personnel: Ivo Perelman; tenor sax: Joseph Sciani; piano: Jay Rosen; drums

Record Label: Leo Records
Style: Modern Jazz