The Ivo Perelman Quartet: Sieiro

Listening to tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman is sort of like watching a heavyweight boxing match. Perelman exudes power and bravado from his horn with all the charisma of a heavyweight champ. From the opening moments of “Sieiro” we hear Perelman blowing furiously, especially in the upper registers of his instrument. On his latest, Sieiro Perelman receives fine support from the venerable New York based modern-free jazz rhythm section of drummer Jay Rosen and bassist Dominic Duval. Along with the excellent cellist, Tomas Ulrich, Perelman explores a variety of tonal ranges and tempi as Ulrich’s bowed cello articulations provide an endearing contrast to Perelman’s husky, reverberating tone and authoritative presence. Fluctuating meter, gobs of expressionism and a slightly-in-your-face attack, make Sieiro an intense listening experience. Perelman, not content to stay within the confines of one particular format or band, mixes it up rather nicely here – as Duval’s dark brooding bass lines coupled with Ulrich’s at times manic bowing and plucking meshes well with Perelman’s extended high notes and multifarious approach. Basically, the guy is all over the place!

Sieiro is an interesting follow up to Perelman’s previous Leo release, “Brazilian Watercolors”. Raw energy, emotion and mesmerizing dialogue is what this band brings to the table while Perelman performs as if he were baring his soul for the entire world to hear.