Gregg Belisle-Chi: Slow Crawl: Performing the Music of Tim Berne

Guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi's story mirrors that of saxophonist Tim Berne, which makes Slow Crawl all the more compelling. Berne's own musical journey began when he was so moved by Julius Hemphill's Dogon A.D. (Mbari, 1972) that he relocated to New York to study directly with the master. Decades later, Belisle-Chi had a similar experience in Seattle when he first encountered Berne's Science Friction (Screwgun, 2002). The album altered his musical trajectory, prompting him to move to New York to study with Berne. Their mentorship quickly evolved into collaboration, resulting in the duo recording Mars (Intakt, 2022) and the trio outing Yikes Too (Screwgun/Out Of Your Head, 2025) with drummer Tom Rainey.

Berne's catalog of compositions is vast, and Slow Crawl: Performing the Music of Tim Berne marks Belisle-Chi's second solo acoustic recording devoted to it, following Koi (Relative Pitch, 2021). The project recalls Miles Okazaki's monumental Work: The Complete Compositions of Thelonious Monk (self-released, 2019), in its fidelity to the written material. Like Okazaki, Belisle-Chi avoids ornamentation or improvisation, presenting the compositions with a stripped-down, almost chamber-like precision.

His instrument of choice—a steel-string acoustic guitar—renders every detail audible, from the lightest touch to the smallest shift of tone. Belisle-Chi approaches the material with restraint and clarity, offering a deliberate counterpoint to Berne's own delivery. Where Berne's saxophone can be bristling, angular, even confrontational, Belisle-Chi's interpretations are patient, harmonious and exacting. The contrasts reveal the depth of Berne's writing: jagged and lyrical, volatile and serene, depending on the interpreter.

What emerges in Slow Crawl is chamber jazz of remarkable poise. Belisle-Chi provides the yin to Berne's yang, casting new light on these compositions and underscoring their structural brilliance. It is both a tribute and a reframing—one that highlights Belisle-Chi's exceptional artistry while affirming Berne's place as one of the most inventive composers of his generation.