Sentient Beings: Truth Is Not The Enemy

"Hills And Valleys," "Valleys And Hills." The titles of the two lengthy tracks on Truth Is Not The Enemy furnish oft-used metaphors for the flowing changes in intensity, volume and dynamics of long-form improvisations. However, on this occasion the hills seem more like summit plateau while the valleys are narrow and deep, as the four piece Sentient Beings maintains an almost unbroken stream of engaging high-energy interplay. At the heart of the outfit lies the pre-existing duo of British violinist Faith Heleene Brackenbury and American drummer Tony Bianco, responsible for the sometimes transcendental Wayward Mystic (Discus, 2023), while completing the unit are American saxophonist John O'Gallagher and Newcastle-based bassist John Pope.

Recorded in North London's Vortex Jazz Club in February 2024 on the last night of a seven date tour, the quartet has obviously gelled from top to bottom. Exhibit A in affirmation is the ceaseless empathetic interweaving of Brackenbury's violin and viola with O'Gallagher's fluent alto saxophone. Their fast morphing shifts between soaring, supporting and squabbling comprise one of the disc's main selling points. Bianco's crisp hyperspeed rat-a-tat drum undertow further adds to the distinctiveness of the session and sweeps the other participants continually onwards, abetted by the subliminal thrum of Pope's knotty bass lines.

Brackenbury's horn-like phrasing and keening tone mesh well with the saxophonist, whose aching cries, linked by rapid-fire ululations, contain a tang of Ornette Coleman. Perhaps too well at times, as their sparring might be better served by more contrast than the tonally similar alto and viola, in particular, afford. But that is a minor criticism, outweighed by many notable moments. "Hills And Valleys" contains a lovely pizzicato passage for both bass and violin, fuelled by Bianco's pattering brushes. Later in the same piece, O'Gallagher demonstrates his feel for lyricism with an extemporized melody which evokes John Coltrane's "Naima" and forms the core of the ensuing group exchange. As is often the case, the next cut, "Valleys And Hills," (maybe the second set), raises the stakes again, with Bianco pushing everyone yet more.

All in all, Truth Is Not The Enemy offers a compelling document of an exhilarating encounter.

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