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Rich Halley: Terra Incognita
ByThe music is best when Shipp and the rhythm section get the space to establish themselves before Halley cuts loose. "Forager" begins with the saxophonist limiting himself to small, deep figures while Shipp and the rhythm section trace lightly dancing patterns before the tenor shifts into foggy blues hollers and, later, full onslaught mode. On the relatively brief "The Elms" Halley does a slow, honking descent that becomes a long, subdued moan with Shipp's sinister keyboard crawling in support.
The rest of the set's tracks are glorious bursts of intense '60s' style Archie Shepp's "Fire Music" shaped and focused by the rhythm section. Baker starts "Centripedal" with crisp rolls that lead to fast bass walks and blazing piano runs that keep pace with Halley's hefty roars. On "Terra Incognita" Shipp starts by walking along jagged shards of rhythm with Bisio and Baker groaning and tickling while Halley does short barrel rolls that turn into rhapsodic bellowing. On "The Journey" Halley blows a mournful serenade while Shipp plays complimentary riffs and trills and Bisio and Baker produce a rattling undercurrent that grounds the delirious sounds above them. Halley sounds especially melodic as he digs deep flourishes which gradually work up into gale force blowing. He eventually gives way to a section of quietly intense murmurs from the trio and a strong Bisio bass solo before reentering with a more controlled and soulful howl that carries echoes of Albert Ayler and Shepp.
This is old-school energy jazz from four master musicians that works best when the contrast between the brute force of Rich Halley's tenor and the relative delicacy of the rhythm section is in balance. It's ragged in spots but still very potent music.
Track Listing
The Opening; Forager; Centripetal; The Elms; Terra Incognita; The Journey.
Personnel
Rich Halley
saxophone, tenorRich Halley: tenor sax; Matthew Shipp: piano; Michael Bisio: bass; Newman Taylor Baker: drums.
Album information
Title: Terra Incognita | Year Released: 2019 | Record Label: Pine Eagle Records
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About Rich Halley
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
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