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Albatrosh: Yonkers
ByIf the intrepid Albatrosh continues to reference saxophonist Dave Liebman and pianist Richie Beirach's longstanding partnershipin particular Roligheten's expressionist tendencies and predilection for gritty multiphonics, as well as Dale's unmistakable roots in a classical traditionit distances itself from the four decade-old duo with an approach that treads an even greyer line between complex compositional constructs and unfettered spontaneity. Liebman and Beirach may have their code, but so, too, do Dale and Rolegheten. Those who continue to unfairly accuse artists from outside the United States of not being sufficiently in the tradition will find little to change their minds in Dale's impressionistic "Central Park." But while "Pickup Truck" begins with a knotty unison line bolstered by relentless left-hand arpeggios, when the duo suddenly breaks into a fiery swing halfway through the tune, it becomes clear that Albatrosh is absolutely of the tradition, even as it looks to push and pull it beyond recognition elsewhere in the set.
If the all-acoustic Albatrosh is something of a rarity on Rune Grammofona label that, by and large, focuses on electric music of many persuasionsit's a move that should garner this duo additional international attention. Recorded in just one night last spring, outside New York City in the titular Yonkers, this set of original compositions together and collaborativelty by Dale and Roligheten continues to hone Albatrosh's simultaneously serious and playful approach; there's no denying the quirky mischief of Roligheten's accelerating melody, played with the kind of simpatico that's the consequence of more than half a decade playing together on the exhilarating miniature, "Fifths."
Lithe, lean and seemingly unbound by conventional compositional form, Roligheten's instrumental command is impressive, in turns melodic and breathy ("Major Little"), viscerally piercing and slap-tongue percussive ("Linedance"), and demonstrating incredible multiphonic control ("Coral Fox'). Dale's touch is pliantlight and delicate on the brooding "Pannebrask," but capable of greater weight and dynamic extremes "Fifths"with a seemingly endless flow of ideas.
Together, Albatrosh makes for one of today's most expressive and intuitive piano/sax pairings. Yonkers is another winner from a duo that may still be young in years, but whose reach and ability to work within and without the jazz tradition belies its youthful age and, instead, makes a strong case for partnership and the commitment to finding a collective voice that transcends individual strengths to create an unbreakable yet ever-pliant bond.
Track Listing
Albony & Ivory; Fifths; Major Little; Coral Fox; Linedance; Central Park; Pickup Truck; Pannebrask.
Personnel
Eyolf Dale: piano; André Roligheten: saxophone.
Album information
Title: Yonkers | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: Rune Grammofon
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