Savina Yannatou / Julius Gabriel / Agusti Fernandez / Barry Guy / Ramon Lopez: In The Light Of The Current Myth

Although this is the first release by the quintet of saxophonist Julius Gabriel, pianist Agusti Fernandez, drummer Ramón López, bassist Barry Guy and vocalist Savina Yannatou, all five have been members of Guy's Blue Shroud Band since its inception in 2014. As such they are well versed in each other's capabilities and predilections, having taken part in countless improv sessions together in a variety of combinations. Consequently there is an ease and trust that permeates the fast mutating kaleidoscope of colors they produce across the seven extemporizations in this studio session, recorded shortly after completion of All This This Here (FSR, 2023).

It is a group in which everyone possesses an extended range. As a consequence the collective palette is extraordinary. Gabriel, who wields both tenor and baritone, draws raspy growls and frisky yelps from both horns, variously incantatory or ruminative. Similarly adept at mining the extremes, Fernández can remind of the ringing motifs of Cecil Taylor on the keys, or summon abrasive reverberation from the interior. Guy not only contrasts chiming harmonics with deep resonance, but also switches seamlessly between plucked and bowed, and does so all in the blink of an eye. While López clatters and churns with the best, he also deploys speech like commentary from the tablas he incorporates into his kit.

Yannatou meanwhile shifts nimbly between guttural plosives and bat bothering frequencies. Given her vocal acrobatics, the album title seems particularly apt, as if she is recounting legends or sagas in some forgotten language: dark tales of intrigue, love and loss. Among the many notable episodes are a beautiful songlike duet between her and Guy on "Part Two" which recalls their meeting on Attikos (Maya, 2010). Other high points include the glinting tenor/piano sprint on "Part Four," the interplay between tenor, bass and drums at the start of "Part Five" and Fernández' bravura introduction to "Part Six."

In The Light Of The Current Myth soars with the kind of profound accord a working band accrues only after years of camaraderie.