Ravi Padmanabha: Tongue Rust and Lead Moth, Nivesana

Ravi Padmanabha and Steve Baczkowski Tongue Rust and Lead Moth Utech 2006	Ravi Padmanabha and Daniel Carter Nivesana Epoch 2006

Drummer/percussionist Ravi Padmanabha and saxophonist Steve Baczkowski first teamed up in the Buffalo Suicide Prevention Unit, a rough-and-tumble horn-heavy quintet led, more or less, by Baczkowski's baritone. Prior to that group effort, on The Dim Bulb (Wet Paint), Baczkowski went head to head with saxophonist Paul Flaherty, whose recent duet recordings with madman drummer Chris Corsano (The Hated Music, The Beloved Music on Family Vineyard) set the standard for extreme free jazz duo blowouts in the post-Interstellar Space era. Tongue Rust and Lead Moth, issued in a limited release of 200 by the "no frills, just music Utech label out of Milwaukee, is generally as blistering as you might expect. But what surprises are the moments of reflection and bits and pieces of melody that surface from the turmoil made possible by Padmanabha's deftly light and lyrical touch, putting you in mind of Hamid Drake's work with Peter Brötzmann.

Where the Padmanabha/Baczkowski duo matches expectations for a meeting of sax and drums, Nivesana, Padmanabha's collaboration with master hornman Daniel Carter, wipes them away. An organic blend of music that mixes fine jazz playing with exotic sonic atmospheric touches, only 3 of the 60 minutes on this disc are devoted to crashing and roaring. The rest is one improvisation after another of Carter's creamy tone on trumpet and sax paired with Padmanabha's chilled rhythms and seamless electronic looping, from the shuffle of "Story Out of Print to the tabla on "The Jewel Is in the Lotus to the hand drumming on "Remembrance , which glides on Carter's buttery clarinet. Self-released and modestly packaged, this CD brims with originality and an ancient, spiritual vibe and is a true find.

Tracks and Personnel

Tongue Rust and Lead Moth

Tracks: Tongue; Rust; Throat; Brain; Lead; Gut; Coil; Moth

Personnel: Ravi Padmanabha: drums, percussion; Steve Baczkowski: tenor & baritone sax

Nivesana

Tracks: Nivesana; Vasana; Vines Stem to Flowers; Maka Supreme/Takadinkataka; The Jewel Is in the Lotus; Remembrance; Story Out of Print

Personnel: Ravi Padmanabha: drums, moorsing, voice, tabla, live loops; Daniel Carter: saxophones, trumpet, clarinet, flute