Anna Butterss, John Raymond, & Ben Lumsdaine: Beginningless

     The electro-acoustic trio of Anna Butterss, John Raymond, & Ben Lumsdaine conjures a collision of groove and noise on the enchanting Beginningless. Their improvised music relies in part on connections forged by bassist Anna Butterss and drummer Ben Lumsdaine in 2010 in Indiana, with trumpeter John Raymond coming on the scene in 2017. The much respected guitarist and theorist of improvisation Derek Bailey preferred to play with new partners all the time, thinking it might prove musically “interesting.” Over many years of listening to music that relies on improvisation to a large extent, I’ve come to think that familiarity often breeds not contempt, but feelings of closeness and instant communication. For Beginningless, the trio played live in the studio with each member utilizing an array of electronic tools in real time. Some tracks are more effects-oriented than others, but the trio’s music never fails to draw you into their world. Definitely worth a listen. 

Northern Spy NS 180; John Raymond (tpt, flgh, effects) Anna Butterss (ac b, effects) Ben Lumsdaine (d, effects); Los Angeles, CA, February 22-23, 2025; Faced Round/ Very Large Numbers/ From the Corners/ Parallax/ Serene/ Beginningless/ Pacific/ Open Wide the Big Arms/ Sideways; 38:42. northernspy.music