Charles Downs Quartet: Inner

   

      The music of the Charles Downs Quartet on Inner is precisely what you’d expect from the storied ESP-Disk label: unfettered free improvisation that employs a broad range of strategies to move the music forward. Drummer/leader Downs, now 82 years old, performed under the name Rashid Bakr for most of his career, playing with several editions of Cecil Taylor’s bands, as well as with Jemeel Moondoc and Other Dimension In Music. He reverted to his birth name earlier this century, playing in the Flow Trio with Joe Morris on bass and Louie Belogenis on tenor sax, and with multi-instrumentalist Joe McPhee. Morris joins him for this outing, Downs’ very first release as leader. Jamie Saft, whose musical résumé is dauntingly lengthy, plays piano, and Hery Paz is out front on tenor saxophone. Downs’ nuanced drumming, dynamic control, and polyrhythmic expertise serve to energize his companions. Paz’s growly sound and quick reflexes are complemented by Saft’s incisive piano lines and Morris’ adventurous bass. The exemplary ebb and flow of this session makes for a wholly enjoyable recording. Recommended. 

ESP-Disk’ ESP5044; Hery Paz (sax) Jamie Saft (p) Joe Morris (b) Charles Downs (d); Brooklyn, NY, December 16, 2024; Inner, parts 1-5; 58:02. espdisk.com