Joel Futterman: Innervoice

Veteran pianist Joel Futterman may be best known for his long association with saxophonist Kidd Jordan and drummer Alvin Fielder, but he is also a prolific purveyor of solo sessions. Innervoice, recorded in July 2024, is a worthy addition to a tally that also includes gems like the monumental five CD box set Creation Series (NoBusiness, 2021), among many others. Like much of Futterman's output, it was birthed entirely in the moment, with no subsequent edits. That suggests stupendous concentration, the product of years of experience crystallized into three pieces in a 62-minute studio program.

While Futterman remains an unabashed modernist, whose default mode is an undulating atonal surge, he sporadically diverts into more well-trodden byways, calling at will on the breadth and depth of jazz history. A propulsive vamp, complete with a bluesy right hand, figures early in "Part I" suggests McCoy Tyner in full flight while, later in the same piece, crisply articulated cell-like phrases which recall the building blocks beloved of Cecil Taylor jostle with melodies that might have come from the Great American songbook. It makes for an edgy but enthralling journey.

Although they are unscripted, Futterman imparts a satisfying sense of form to his outpourings—satisfying because the human imagination is irredeemably hard-wired to seek order. Notably, each of the three parts builds from the same short ringing motif—part question, part entreaty—that the pianist also reprises towards the close of each.

However, from that simple beginning he finds abundant inspiration to take each one into different directions, spicing the relentless churn of "Part II" with triumphant flourishes and reflective interludes, while largely tender on the brief concluding "Part III." On-the-fly structure also manifests within the meat of each piece, as Futterman intermittently returnins to elements such as the vamp in "Part I" to give profundity and heft. Overall the effect is intoxicating.

Futterman creates an unfolding tapestry both richly woven and sumptuously colored.