Ivo Perelman: Molten Gold

Saxophonist Ivo Perelman is a restless innovator, and his recorded output is as inventive as it is prolific. On the exhilarating Molten Gold he explores a new sonic texture by playing with the equally idiosyncratic trombonist Ray Anderson. In addition to Anderson, the quartet includes another Chicago native, drummer Reggie Nicholson who developed his unique sound with the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM). Frequent Perelman collaborator, guitarist Joe Morris, here playing double bass, completes the ensemble. The entirely improvised set consists of four long tracks and, despite the distinctiveness of each musician's style, the four men demonstrate remarkable camaraderie with one another.

For instance, "Liquid" opens with an angular dialogue between Morris' sparse pizzicato and Anderson' brief, poignant growls. Anderson brings an almost human quality to the trombone's voice while Morris makes his pliant notes respond with alacrity. Seamlessly, Perelman enters the conversation with his brassy tenor while Nicholson contributes clusters of thundering beats. Morris' approach to the bass is singular as he sometimes strums the strings like a guitarist while at other times bowing out a melancholic drone like a kora. Perelman and Anderson echo one another with their spontaneous phrases while building a fiery duet of wailing reed and yearning brass lines within a riotous group performance and a tense ambience.

Elsewhere, "Gravity" has a dark, dramatic mood as Morris' con arco refrains merge with Nicholson's rumbling expectant mallet strikes. Perelman maintains this somber mood as he plays the upper registers of his instrument, flirting with dissonance. He launches into a wistful, somber extemporization, to which Anderson adds his softly moaning tones. The absorbing and solemn tune, nevertheless, is quite vibrant and as thrilling as the rest of the album. Perelman and Morris play a moving and sorrowful melody which melts into a dynamic and more up-tempo duet between the bassist and Anderson. The latter's cinematic staccato unfurls with breath-taking agility. With polyrhythmic flourishes, Nicholson drives the piece into a crescendo after which the horns engage in a solemn exchange filled with deep emotion and spirituality.

Not surprisingly, for Perelman, Molten Gold is another superlative work of improvisation. His colleagues on this two-disc release share in his creative vision, making the music even more compelling. This a sublime example of artistic collaboration, simultaneously individualistic and synergistic.