A strong punchy lead-off track here from Sylvie Courvoisier, Drew Gress and Kenny Wollesen for Free Hoops new on Intakt in September. After the initial, almost martial, statement, the piano direction takes on more of a fractured quality with all three players weaving their own jagged paths. Recorded towards the end of last year in New York state the album continues the work the trio began for Intakt with D'Agala. Definintely a big avant highlight for the autumn in prospect.
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There's a fascinating glimpse here of how a top bass guitarist and drummer work together on the intimate Electric Blue, from Mark Egan and Danny Gottlieb, famed for their work in the Pat Metheny Group.
Egan recently has struck up a good relationship with trumpeter Linley Hamilton and toured and recorded with the trumpeter.
Here, in a very different setting, he explores the possibilities of the instrument beyond its usual role in a group sound switching from lead voice to the beat and back in an organic unity.
On 'Come What May' for instance the spaciousness and bluesy ache that is at the core of the duo interplay manifests itself best. Gottlieb is a sparkling presence as he responds to the lines Egan throws over to him and gains traction on the title track expecially as it moves into the sort of space Dave Holland created acoustically on 'In a Silent Way'.
A must for bass payers and drummers alike especially in terms of the crucial rapport between the two and how it can be achieved via the language of jazz and so much more.
Out now on Wavetone records.