The fabulous Pleonid (2017) was the last time saxophonist Avram Fefer was on our radar. It is no reflection on the prolific and stimulating avant saxophonist but maybe an indication how territorial jazz appreciation can be when a leading light from a particular scene even a US one is pretty much little-known beyond even among specialist listeners.
Not so guitarist Marc Ribot famed for his work with Tom Waits and Eric Revis, from the Branford Marsalis Quartet one of the greatest jazz groups of the last 30 years particularly when Tain was still in the band, on this gem of an album the title track of which is streaming. A case once again of the democracy of the music when leaders become side players when the situation is right. Old news.
Completed by drummer Chad Taylor - begin if new to the quartet with Testament put out in 2019. Taylor thinking further back was magnificent in 2011 heard live at London's Bishopsgate over the road from Liverpool Street station playing Ayler in Ribot's trio with Henry Grimes.
On Juba Lee Fefer is on tenor and on bass clarinet and brings a righteous frisson and blues connotation throughout. Highlights include a new version of Fefer's Abdullah Ibrahim tribute 'Brother Ibrahim' that appeared in a different guise on 2004's Shades of the Muse. There's a sense of freedom throughout this fine album that simply can't be commodified which elsewhere is a faultline within a lot of contemporary jazz when cats do the right thing often for the wrong reason. There is no such bad faith anywhere here one of the reasons why it gets you deep within.
Avram Fefer photo: Clara Pereira
Out on 18 November
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