Walking Cliche Sextet: Micro-Nap

Walking Cliche Sextet, led by bassist SeaJun Kwon, is one of those bands that cut a ragged path between several genres of music. Jazz, prog rock, classical, drones, and other elements all get mixed into a spiky, ever-changing musical stew with a raucous edge reminiscent of some of Henry Threadgill's music.

On first hearing, the three horns at the front of the sextet often seem at odds with the rhythm section, but their separate parts turn out to fit together well. The quiet piano notes that begin "Maud'Dib" lead into a prog rock rhythm trio overlaid with blaring horns. "Anamorphosis No. 1" gains a somber power from the contrast between aaron dutton's and Jacob Shulman's saxophones quietly moaning together and the rhythm section's vigorous clanging. "Rumination" starts as a languid duet for Dutton's singing alto and erez dessel's piano, then takes on momentum and weight as the other instruments join in, leading to a strong trombone solo by michael juba prentky.

Nothing stays the same for long in this music, but the changes never feel abrupt. Kwon's arranging lets the different motifs in his compositions merge naturally into each other. "Commune" begins with a low drone which changes into swooning sax lines, and builds into a dramatic full-group roar. Then Avery Logan's drums and Prentky's tuba embark on a stuttering funk-tinged duet which sparks the entire band into a forceful climax. "Trio Interlude" is a piano trio piece of repetitions and bumpy, irregular rhythms which segues nicely into the seductive mood of "Transient." Here Dutton's alto leads the sextet into a romantic late-night melody which develops into a tango and gives Shulman and pianist jacob hiser room to swoop and dance through the melody.

SeaJun Kwon's music combines a lot of ideas and genres into interesting forms. It has its share of quirks and twists but still emerges as strong and original. The rough and boisterous sound of his Walking Cliche Sextet is definitely worth hearing.

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