Wednesday, June 27, 2018

AALY Trio + Ken Vandermark - Hidden in the Stomach (SILKHEART RECORDS 2018)


Recorded in an excellent Stockholm studio during December 1996, AALY TRIO + KEN VANDERMARK features Mats Gustafsson and Ken Vandermark on reeds, together with bassist Peter Janson and drummer Kjell Nordeson. AALY TRIO has been in existence for a number of years, consistently playing exciting music. This is their debut on disc and it is quite a major event, particularly since they are joined by another significant contributor to new jazz improvisation in the shape of Ken Vandermark. The music played by the quartet is free improvisation but their control is no empathic and cohesive that the music almost sounds arranged. Extraordinary. 

"Paul Valéry said poetry is hidden in the stomach, you're obsessed by it, never quite sure of it, but know it's there and want to bring it out." 
William Baziotes 

In a debate with a friend over the relative qualities of Chaim Soutine and Piet Mondrian, William Baziotes argued that "...looseness of execution [is] no virtue in itself...." This statement actually says a good bit about Baziotes, a painter often grouped with the abstract expressionists, but out of step with them, preferring orderly forms - never straying completely from figuration - over the drizzled, slashed and flung pigments of action-painters like Jackson...  more

1. Structure à la Mallé 13:34
2. Why I Don't Go Back 10:14
3. Song for Che 09:00
4. Unknown Title 08:27
5. Albumblatt Again 01:47
6. Ghosts / Spirits 11:56

Mats Gustafsson tenor sax, baritone sax (right channel)
Ken Vandermark tenor sax, clarinet, bass-clarinet (left channel)
Peter Janson bass
Kjell Nordeson drums, percussion