Ned Rothenberg / Catherine Jauniaux / Barre Phillips: While You Were Out

Belgian vocalist Catherine Jauniaux is one the most underappreciated of a generation of free improv vocalists. Less a storyteller than Shelley Hirsch, more overtly musical than Phil Minton or Jaap Blonk, she falls somewhere between their spontaneous explorations and the avant art songs of Joan La Barbara. She has released only a handful of records with bands still loved by the few who recall (The Hat Shoes, Aksak Maboul and Vibraslaps, her duo with Ikue Mori) and is, perhaps, best known for her personal and professional relationship with the late Tom Cora.

She seems to be reestablishing her Downtown roots in recent years, making the trip from her home in France to play with Marc Ribot, Ned Rothenberg and others, and in November of 2008 brought Rothenberg (and his shakuhachi and multiple reeds) over to play New York's Instants Chavires with herself and American ex-pat bassist Barre Phillips.

The eight tracks here make for a great set of vignettes. Not the kind of short stories that rely on punch lines, but well-told, small but complete worlds. The three players swirl around each other endlessly, restlessly, each tastefully sitting out long passages, none relying on a single impetus for very long when they are playing, each constantly molding without smashing. It's a testament to how well they play together that it's so easy to not notice when configurations change. They make up a lovely hour together.