Tim Berne - Tom Rainey - Gregg Belisle-Chi: Yikes Too

Tim Berne's Yikes Too marks a significant expansion of the saxophonist's artistic vision, unfolding across two discs that showcase both his compositional architecture and improvisational dexterity. Berne joins forces with drummer Tom Rainey and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi—a Bill Frisell protégé—to form a new trio that navigates intellectual complexity and gut-level musical communication with equal fluency.

The studio sessions at Firehouse 12 yield ten compositions where Berne's characteristic dark alto tone weaves through mathematical labyrinths of sound. Standouts "Oddly Enough" and "Guitar Star" demonstrate the group's ability to navigate fractured rhythmic terrain and confrontational modal structures. Belisle-Chi emerges as a perfect foil, deploying incendiary linear passages and textural chord work that transforms the ensemble sound. The music shifts between architectural precision and volcanic eruptions of free play, maintaining a compelling narrative thread throughout. The Julius Hemphill tribute radiates thoughtful homage, its dynamic contours capturing the spirit of the influential saxophonist without mere imitation.

Disc two transports listeners to The Royal Room in Seattle, where the compositions breathe differently in the live setting. The musicians display an almost supernatural awareness of each other's intentions, delivering performances that combine meticulous preparation with genuine spontaneity. Extended versions of "Bat Channel" and "Trauma" find the trio pushing into unexplored sonic territories. "Clandestine" unfolds with mischievous intensity through its ascending patterns and demanding metric shifts, featuring rapid-fire unison passages that defy conventional coordination. Rainey orchestrates rhythmic chaos with his avalanche of rolls and decisive snare punctuations, while Belisle-Chi delivers a solo of haunting dissonance and unexpected melodic turns. The compositions frequently undergo temporal metamorphosis, creating cyclical structures that constantly reinvent themselves.

Berne's signature approach—angular phrases and rhythmic disorientation—remains the foundation, but the collaborative chemistry elevates the material. Belisle-Chi's guitar, often saturated with carefully crafted distortion, creates harmonic friction against Berne's saxophone lines. Rainey does not simply maintain the pulse—he fragments it, reconstructs it, and occasionally dismantles it entirely to serve the music's evolving needs.

David Torn's production preserves the musical details with remarkable clarity, whether capturing the pristine studio environment or the energetic concert atmosphere. The visual presentation by Steve Byram and TJ Huff provides a fitting graphical counterpart to the music's abstract yet visceral qualities.

Yikes Too demonstrates Berne's ongoing artistic evolution and his ability to create distinctive musical environments. It documents a moment where three distinct musical personalities converge into something greater than their individual contributions. The album rewards attentive listening, revealing new dimensions with each encounter—like deciphering a musical manuscript written in disappearing ink. For the adventurous listener, the album offers a stimulating journey through contemporary improvised music, guided by one of its most uncompromising and original voices.