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Sam Rivers: Emanation
ByHe utilized the trio as one of his preferred means of expression (alongside the more logistically challenging orchestra). As was his wont in the format, he creates form spontaneously, and showcases each of his instruments: tenor and soprano saxophones, flute and piano. He begins "Part I" alone on tenor, and proceeds to seesaw between a floating post-bop feel which recalls Jimmy Lyons (Rivers band mate in Cecil Taylor's late-'60s unit), and overblown hollers, repeatedly building to a roiling climax, only to regroup for a further assault, ably abetted by Connors. Sadly McBee's bass is lost in the louder passages, but he gets the opportunity for a lengthy fleet-fingered pizzicato excursion while Rivers switches to flute.
On flute, Rivers is folky and boppish, tracing a buoyant course, while McBee walks his bass and Connors marks time on cymbals. When he moves to piano, where he evokes both early Cecil Taylor and classical romanticism, the backing becomes more textural and free. Whatever the conduit, Rivers continually reinvigorates his lines, working in broad arcs without a safety net, using licks and extemporized figures to relaunch himself and occasionally mirroring his accompanist, particularly some of Connors' rhythmic phrases.
For the first 20 minutes of "Part II" he plays chirruping, husky, snake charmer soprano saxophone, pacing himself through a succession of peaks without real resolution, maintaining an ongoing tension. There's an electrifying section when he wields to flute once more, where he interrupts the airy dancing lilt with increasingly raucous cries, culminating in screams to "Look out motherfucka," which wholly belie the innocuous tone of his flute work. The vocal shouts continue, taken up by Connors and McBee too, when Rivers shifts once more to piano, alternately pummeling and rippling, before concluding in a tandem with Connors' drums.
This first installment suggests a mouthwatering treat in store, and one which will burnish Rivers' reputation even more.
Track Listing
Emanation Part I; Emanation Part II.
Personnel
Sam Rivers
saxophone, tenorSam Rivers: tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, piano; Cecil McBee: bass; Norman Connors: drums.
Album information
Title: Emanation | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: NoBusiness Records
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