Joel Futterman & Ike Levin: Enigma

This most recent collaboration between two spontaneous musicians, pianist Joel Futterman and reedman Ike Levin, finds them pushing the empathic envelope to discover new, blazing soundscapes in which to ply their art. Futterman, a reclusive genius with a rehearsal habit that stretches eight to ten hours a day, displays staggering technique with unending production of ideas. His partner, a Bay Area free music firebrand, matches Futterman's creative stamina, burning brightly and serving up a feast of musical fireworks on this hour-long extravaganza.

Enigma opens with "Convergence and some broiling piano work by Futterman. Levin blows in on tenor, and the duo redefines so-called energy music. Hand-scraped piano strings introduce "Wonder, with Levin sly and subtle on bass clarinet. Here, restraint and understatement rule. "Discourse features Futterman on soprano sax in a thoughtful call-and-response duo with Levin. The title track, at over twenty minutes, plays like a suite with truly unexpected deviations. Levin back on tenor suggests Rollins here and there; Futterman flashes lines on soprano while playing piano. After a truly boggling array of variations, Futterman softly voices tonal chords, and Levin follows the unexpected trend. The intensity rebuilds, and the music re-explodes.

Formations includes guest Benjamin Tomassetti on alto sax. Futterman returns to soprano for an evolving woodwind trio where players echo, answer, and transcend one another. Tomassetti returns for "Riddlesque, where Futterman returns to piano. Each player takes turns creating the melody. "Conciliation creates a haunting moment with the duo playing an introspective ballad.

These fearlessly adventurous musicians extend their string of remarkable recorded documents with Enigma, confounding expectations, except for their unswerving focus on excellence.