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1032K: That Which Is Planted
ByOn bassist Charles Mingus' classic "Ecclusiastics" trombonist Frank Lacy opens with a growling, intelligent unaccompanied improvisation that ushers in the soulful rhythmic vamps of his colleagues. He preaches from the bible book of the same name and then channels that spirituality into his horn with a complex, expansive set of spontaneous phrases. In this he is reminiscent of Ralph Ellison's fictional, trombone wielding minister Alonzo Hickman from the latter's unfinished second novel. The piece evolves with two simultaneous and complementary trends; an inspirational fervor and a raw earthiness.
Saxophonist Albert Ayler's "Ghosts" receives a haunting and somber reading. Lacy stretches out with a pensive yet extroverted solo, filled equally with both exuberance and ire, over bassist Kevin Ray's echoing reverberations and drummer Andrew Drury's thunderous beats. Ray's textured and contemplative pizzicato performance gives way to his intensely melodic bowing that unfurls over shakers, bells and other percussive instruments. Drury's atmospheric and hypnotic sound swirls create a mystical ambience that he fills with the thrilling gallop of his drum set.
Drury pushes the boundaries of his instrument as he creates a harmonically unique and stimulating tapestry of thuds and vibration on drummer Steve McCall's "BK." Ray's imaginative and angular exploration of the melody's essence is stirring and absorbing. Lacy, meanwhile, switches to his modified trumpet or flumpet with its heady, thick and clean tone. His passionate extemporization burns with intense poetry and a rough-hewn lyricism.
The sui generis set of skills that each member of 1032K brings to the ensemble leads to an explosive and exciting fusion of talent. The result is this brilliant and near perfect record, a vivid and imaginative masterpiece, that showcases a band at the height of its powers.
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1032K
CD/LP/Track Review
Hrayr Attarian
Passin' Thru Records
United States
New York
New York City
Charles Mingus
Frank Lacy
Albert Ayler
Kevin Ray
Andrew Drury
Steve McCall
That Which Is Planted