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Evans begins with a slow and gentle soundscape where he explores the altissimo register of the baritone. In the next two short pieces he uses swift fingerings of the keys to explore pitch and timbre. Evans dedicates two beautiful polytonal pieces, "Junie Part I & II" to his father and his best friend which refrain from sentimentality with a restrained articulation. He also dedicates the most experimental composition, "It's the Right Toe, Bro" to his former teacher and mentor Liebman, who quoted as saying that "he is exploring a mere toe from the body of Coltrane." Here Evans navigates through a loose harmonic framework that contains slides into dissonant clusters and drone layers like the sound of electronic white noise.
"A Deya in the Life of Mulligan" is a melodic, multi-layered meditation that suggests the elegant and subtle tone of the late baritone master, Gerry Mulligan. "Mother and Others" is another emotional dedication but here Evans uses dynamic multiphonics, squeals and a much rougher tone that engulfs a recognizable theme. Evans concludes this impressive release with the playful "What would of Ives," dedicated to the memory of his first teacher on the baritone, Bill Zaccagni, and references the sound worlds of composer Charles Ives. A fitting summation to all aspects of the baritone heard in this release.
Track Listing: On Tone Yet? Part I (Mover's Mood for Annie); On Tone Yet? Part II; On Tone Yet? Part III; Junie Part I: The Father (for Clarence Evans); Junie Part I: The Friend (for Clarence Evans); It's the Right Toe, Bro (for David Liebman); A Deya in the Life of a Mulligan; Mother and Others (for Genevieve and Jenifer and Jim Besten); What would of Ives (for Bill Zaccagni).
Personnel: Charles Evans: baritone saxophone.
Title: The King Of All Instruments | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Hot Cup Records
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