Reggie Workman’s musical saw and Andrew Cyrille’s percussion are the first sounds you hear on Embracing the Unknown, a tremendously exciting new release by the quartet of Ivo Perelman, Chad Fowler, Reggie Workman, & Andrew Cyrille. Tenor saxophone giant Perelman’s basic vision serves to embrace the unknown by leaving all preconceptions behind when starting to play. Chad Fowler, performing boisterously on stitch and saxello, makes a fine partner in the front line with Perelman’s commanding tenor playing. Both bassist Workman and drummer Cyrille, now in their 80's, are oriented to positive listening and immediate responses to what they’re hearing from the other players. Between them, they have participated in over 450 sessions over the decades, and they’ve played together many times since they both worked in the Jazz Composer’s Orchestra back in 1968. Cyrille played in the Reggie Workman Ensemble in the Eighties, Workman played in Cyrille’s quintet in the early Nineties, and the pair also appeared frequently with saxophonist Oliver Lake as Trio 3, so it is obvious that there’s a mountain of mutual respect. It’s worth noting that Cyrille’s first appearance on record was in 1961 with the master saxophonist Coleman Hawkins (The Hawk Relaxes, for Prestige). For him to play on this date emphasizes both the underlying continuity of the jazz tradition and the always forward-looking attitude of this broadly experienced musician. As the energy level rises and falls and rises again over the 21 minutes of the opening title track, it becomes clear that this is a deeply attuned unit, balanced and mutually attentive to the smallest musical gesture. Soul Searching, which starts out as a marvelous duet between an almost bluesy Perelman and Cyrille’s scintillating brush work, grows into a dramatic quartet blow-out around the half-way point. The saxophones shriek and moan together, Workman holds down the bottom with his dexterous walk, and Cyrille is all over his drum kit. Self-reflection begins with a surprisingly sweet sax duet, and evolves into a sort of free ballad. The joyous Introspection is a vigorous musical conversation that bounces happily along. Self-analysis has a curiously spiritual aspect, with moaning horns, prominent bass, and Cyrille using lots of space in his playing. I’m especially fond of the closing Self-contemplation, featuring a highly animated opening saxophone duet. In the middle of the tune comes a chipper Cyrille solo, played on what sounds like the rims of his drums and a cowbell, soon joined by Workman’s bowed bass. The piece develops into an appealing four-way conversation, and just like that, 68 minutes of intense music is over. To embrace the unknown is to be absolutely prepared to accept the world as it comes. Good advice for living, and superb advice for improvisers. Totally recommended.
Mahakala Music MAHA-076; Ivo Perelman (ts) Chad Fowler (stritch, saxello) Reggie Workman (b, saw, perc) Andrew Cyrille (perc); Brooklyn, NY, no date specified; Embracing the Unknown/ Soul Searching/ Self-reflection/ Introspection/ Self-analysis/ Self-fulfilment/ Self-contemplation; 68:02. mahakalamusic.bandcamp.com
