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Lou Grassi: Port Of Call
ByThere's a largely playful feel to their spontaneous but enigmatic duets. The dozen short cuts on the 42-minute set are grouped under three headings. Although the first four tracks are titled "Misterioso" they are credited to the two participants rather than Thelonious Monk. Although none of them overtly resemble the original, it's hard not to bear his famous seesawing composition in mind, meaning that any perceived echoes discerned may or may not be there.
Given his background, it's no surprise that Grassi often keeps free time with buoyant cross rhythms. In response, Treuheit takes a less predictable path, either cutting across as on "I" where he occasionally strokes the strings, and also evokes Cecil Taylor in his percussiveness, or matching Grassi with patterns of his own as he does on the heavy blues inflections of "IV."
The second group, named "L'Espace Sonore" appear more conversational. A timbral exchange occurs on "I" As Grassi's tappy cowbell cadences are met by Treuheit's dampened piano keys, before pattering drums vie with scurrying runs. Perversely, "III" is the piece that sounds most Monkish on the disc with its wide intervals and odd ringing accents.
Belying the title there's nothing maudlin or elegiac in the third grouping, credited solely to Treuheit, "Lament #PB," as borne out by the pacy breathless dash and dark chording of "I." Although the two principals play together most of the time, Grassi's brief breaks here amid the pulsing piano lines constitute one of the few exceptions. By contrast "II" is more transparent and cerebral, while Treuheit channels Matthew Shipp with his insistent pounding chords over Grassi's dancing swing on "III." "IV" brings the album to an introspective close, but by the end Treuheit remains as hard to pin down and mysterious as ever.
Track Listing
Misterioso i; Misterioso ii; Misterioso iii; Misterioso iv; L’espace sonore i; L’espace sonore ii; L’espace sonore iii; L’espace sonore iv; Lament # pb i; Lament # pb ii; Lament # pb iii; Lament # pb iv
Personnel
Lou Grassi
drumsKlaus Treuheit: piano; Lou Grassi: drums
Album information
Title: Port Of Call | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: NoBusiness Records
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