After Appleby is a recently issued 2 CD-set from the powerhouse Trio of saxophonist Evan Parker, percussionist Paul Lytton, bassist Barry Guy and here teeming with pianist Marilyn Crispell for what heats up to be a - festive union of bleeding edge improvisational spirits! A supergroup for the – modern music – ages, these esteemed musicians perform a series of works that pretty much skirt the fringes of every conceivable tract of intuitive expressionism imaginable along with hearty injections of antagonistic interplay and understated themes.
Disc 1 represents the studio compilation while disc 2 features two lengthy pieces one of which spans 51 extraordinary minutes. Enhanced by a silvery and crystalline recording, which only amplifies the subtle nuances, emotional interplay and overall character, the band pursues high caliber improvisation amid a tangled web of artful dialogue. Here, Parker toggles between soprano and tenor sax while the musicians engage a hodgepodge of inventive themes and jagged choruses that at times seem preconceived or partially rehearsed despite the allusions of a totally improvised format. Essentially, the overall synergy and balance amongst the musicians provides the listener with a thoroughly cohesive and somewhat awe-inspiring portraiture of top-flight workmanship. Throughout, the performers counteract alternating themes with deceptive tactics that seamlessly evolve into newfound territories or perhaps similar to a domino effect that continues to regenerate sans an expected endpoint! Hence, After Appleby should meet or perhaps exceed most of our expectations in a grand sort of way! Highly recommended...
* * * * * (out of * * * * *)
Visit the “Leo Records” website at: www.atlas.co.uk/leorecords/
