Dave Rempis / Elizabeth Harnik / Michael Zerang: Astragaloi

Sometimes listening to free improvisational music is, truth be told, an act of social anthropology. Who is making music? How is the combination of individual instruments configured? Where are the musicians from? Maybe more significant, how has this musical society developed? Astragaloi from the trio of Dave Rempis, elizabeth harnik, and Michael Zerang could be a perfect study for scholars. It is Chicago (Rempis and Zerang) meets Graz, Austria (Harnik), but maybe more important, it is the evolution of the mid 20th century European free jazz movement as nurtured and developed in Chicago returning to Tirol, Austria, for this live performance in March of 2020.

This is the trio's third release, and it follows Triple Tube (Not Two, 2020) and Wistfully (Aerophonic Records, 2016). All three are live dates, better for the anthropologists in us to observe the musicians in their natural habitat. There is plenty of the Rempis trademark rip, tear and crunch heard, but with the somewhat rare appearance of a chordal instrument, Harnik's piano, the approach here is entrancing. Harnik's ability to generate energy is admirable. Whether she is working the keyboard or the insides of the piano, which she does often, the music is hers to direct. She can wield a percussive attack to match Zerang's approach or fire off rapid notes à la Rempis' saxophone, consequently freeing both Zerang and Rempis to illuminate the stage. Zerang has always been a colourist, here he flavors the ensemble with splashes and deep resonant beats. Everything you want to know about the origin, development and evolved behaviors of free jazz is embodied in these forty-two minutes.

Astragaloi is a joint release between Aerophonic Records (CD and digital download) and Idyllic Noise will release it in a vinyl format.