Nicolas Politzer: Visiones

At first encounter, as the Cecil Taylor infused "Fandango" kick-starts Argentinian drummer Nicolas Politzer's highly recommended Visiones, a keen perception of falling, or at least cliff-side vertigo, accompanies the rancorous performance. But do not let go. Hang on. There is resolution.

Politzer's angular musicality makes for some fiery and spirited discussions with well-travelled bassist Michael Formanek, (Mary Halvorson, Tomas Fujiwara, Fred Hersch) and equally far-afield pianist Santiago Leibson, (Francisco Mela, Gerald Cleaver, Camila Nebbia), which can (and do) sound open-ended in any number of highly creative and unique ways. Take the rhythmically subversive "En seres" ("In beings") for example; though, at first, it appears as if it is every man for himself in the white hot kiln, the music soon coalesces into a shared fury, only to clear the mind for the calm vistas of Visiones namesake track. But not so fast; Leibson has other ideas which, at about halfway through its full-bodied twelve minutes, break like a two-stage rocket: stage one falling back to earth as stage two surges into unknown ether regions. It is a neat trick and a very cool turn of events.

Formanek's pizzicato carries the first minutes of "Abismales" ("Abysmal") before Politzer and Leibson add, subtract, multiply, and divide their own skittering voices, building the music from the ground up. Its constructs are secret until revealed in real time, not only to the trio but to the listener as well. It is a collaborative effort that includes all listeners. "Primera" ("First") closes Visiones with a rousing, forceful, yet Zen clarity which permeates the whole.