Ivo Perelman: Tuning Forks

Intrepid improviser and tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman takes his explorations in yet another direction on the captivating Tuning Forks. A duet with vibraphonist Matt Moran, this richly textured work primarily draws inspiration from the musical and healing properties of vibrations. For this, and subsequent releases, Perelman resurrects his previously defunct label Ibeji.

The overall ambience is introspective and wistful; the free flow of ideas between the two musicians is quite lyrical. The seamless camaraderie allows for a natural progression of the paired improvisations, one which highlights the individuality of each artist as well as their synergy.

For instance, "Pythagorean," which is named after a method of tuning instruments, is a quiet and spontaneous nocturne. It consists of bilateral, fluid melodic lines which merge to form a layered stream of consciousness performance. Moran peppers his cascading mallets with bluesy hints, and Pereleman weaves a tender and intimate song around them.

In contrast "Tesla" (Greek for late summer) is more angular and has a faster tempo. Moran alternates rapid-fire beats with resonant glissandos. Perelman constructs crystalline structures with his short phrases. The result is a stimulating, effervescent dialogue which is thrilling from beginning to end.

"Rife" is the final and longest extemporization on the recording. Moran starts off with intricately built refrains. Perelman's tenor saxophone alternates between melancholy and acerbic passion. The ebb and flow of energy, as the tune evolves, keeps it engaging and intriguing. Perelman and Moran, together and separately, introduce unexpected twists and turns which are simultaneously provocative and moving. They impart a cinematic mood to the track which could almost be the theme of an art film yet to be made.

As with each change in Perelman's creative approach, Tuning Forks heralds a new and exciting moment in Perelman's uniformly superb oeuvre. It is auspicious too that it coincides with the revamping of the imprint which released such gems as Soccer Land (Ibeji, 1994) and Tapeba Songs (Ibeji 1996). Even without placing it in the context of Perelman's overall output, this release will definitely stand the test of time.