Ydivide is the multi-national band of the Swiss drummer Clemens Kuratle. Fans of brilliant English pianist Elliot Galvin and Irish guitarist Chris Guilfoyle who are both members of the quintet will be cheered at the solos on 'Another One For Rose' firstly from Galvin and then Guilfoyle before the horn statement. And that incisive horn statement is from London scene alto saxophonist Dee Byrne an avantist who was formerly a long-time member of Emrys Baird's very different Fred Wesley loving funk band Soul Immigrants. Guilfoyle, the son of the MBASE-aligned leading educator bassist Ronan Guilfoyle, goes rockist later and that's when Swiss bassist Lukas Traxel and Kuratle really show their mettle. Progressive avant jazz rock in short it's a stimulating affair and Guilfoyle around for ages steals the show on quite a few tracks while Byrne plays as well as I have ever heard her either live or on record. Both players' profiles deserve to soar as a result of this fine debut made at a Zurich studio. Kuratle's tunes aren't the easiest to digest but reward patient listening especially as you get used to their unusual musical syntax to ultimately reveal the considerable power and sense of freedom that the group so winningly generates. SG
Ydivide, above. Photo via Dee Byrne's website
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