Rich Halley & Carson Halley: The Wild

Rich Halley & Carson Halley document their duo practice on The Wild with a series of no-holds-barred improvisations. The saxophonist father and his drummer son have been pursuing their spontaneous music making for decades at home, long before Carson first recorded with the Rich Halley Quartet featuring Bobby Bradford in 2008. They each bring influences from all over the map, with the younger man citing Rage Against The Machine and Elliott Smith, among others, while Rich has clearly listened to and learned a lot from musicians like John Coltrane, Fred Anderson, and Gene Ammons. When the saxophonist threatens to explode on the spot, the drummer keeps him grounded with his flowing percussion. From Memory is a good example of Carson maintaining a groove while Rich blows up a storm. Most of the pieces are imbued with a good-natured frenzy, but they can get gentle as well, as on the lovely Snake Eyes. No matter what they’re up to at any given moment, the pair is “still just playing the blues,” as Carson writes in a brief liner note. Family bands always have a special connection, and here, in stripped down form, is the latest proof. Definitely recommended.
Pine Eagle 010; Rich Halley (ts, wood fl) Carson Halley (d); Portland, OR, June 27 & August 27, 2015; Wild Lands/ Progenitor/ Flat Plane of the Sky/ The Stroll/ Cursorial/ The Old Ways/ From Memory/ The Recon/ Snake Eyes/ Notes From the Wild Lands; 59:35. www.richhalley.com