East Axis: No Subject

Pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist Kevin Ray, and drummer Gerald Cleaver return for No Subject, the sophomore release from the quartet East Axis. One point on the axis has changed with the journeyman, multi-reedist Scott Robinson replacing saxophonist Allen Lowe. Robinson is a veteran of many prestigious and diverse groups including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider's orchestra, Ron Carter's Great Big Band, and the Joe Lovano Nonet. While not an obvious choice in the company of top-tier avant-gardists, Robinson brings new layers to the music of East Axis with his expertise on a broad array of instruments.

One of the notable aspects of Shipp's style is his use of space and silence, and even in this group setting, he shifts the climate, albeit in a more subtle way. Shipp's distinctive and innovative playing style, hauls in a career's worth of the elements that make up his unique lexicon. Yet the improviser keeps his power in check for the team. Cleaver's playing style often incorporates a wide range of textures and timbres. He utilizes the entire drum kit to create a rich and diverse sonic palette.

There is a bit of irony in the title No Subject. The quartet, even adhering to an often-loose structure, are master storytellers; each tune here is compelling in its narrative. Varying in length from miniatures under one minute to ten-plus, the pieces are laden with atmosphere. Opening with the mercurial "At the Very Least," Shipp and Robinson surgically move from off-kilter balladry to sharp attacks. Robinson and Ray perform a plush duet on "To Be Honest," augmented by Cleaver's bright scurrying about. Ray carries the day with a lyrical, harmonically rich introduction to the stunning "Sometime Tomorrow." His interplay with Shipp on the low-key "Word and Respect" is hypnotizing. "I Like It Very Much" finds Shipp in his aggressive wheelhouse, Robinson teetering between jazz eras and styles, and Ray providing a rock-solid line. "Metal Sounds" is not what the title may imply, but the piece manages to capture a plethora of quickly changing styles and moods from free jazz to blues to swing. Similarly, the closing title track is almost impossible to describe as it traverses an adventurous labyrinth that squalls and mellows but barely touches down long enough to identify.

In a leaderless quartet of this caliber, it is challenging to single out players charting the course of this music but Ray and Robinson definitely influence the dynamics to a great extent. The latter plays the tarogato, alto clarinet, trumpet, tenor saxophone, and slide cornet on No Subject. Ray is the often-understated glue holding this mesmerizing collection together. His understanding of collective improvisation and ability to create melodically singing lines place him among the best bassists in creative music.

No Subject is unadulterated, creative music full of layers, shadings, and unexpected rhythms; it thrives and metamorphosizes on repeated listening. East Axis' move from the ESP-Disk label (2021's Cool With That) to Brother Mister Productions (an imprint of the Mack Avenue label) takes the Christian McBride label to a place beyond their typically mainstream fare. And No Subject takes listeners to an open but unusually accessible soundscape that defies labels.