Axes

Remote Viewers
This Strange Place
RV 21

While each of these sessions features a quartet of saxophonists in multi-timbral examinations, they couldn’t be more different in execution. Creating what easily could be the soundtrack for a suspense thriller, London-based tenor saxophonist David Petts has composed 10 themes whose menacing currents call on not only textures from all four saxophonists and the steady pulse of John Edwards bass, but also multi synthesized sounds from other instruments. As sunny as This Strange Place is gloomy, the six tunes composed by Coimbra-based soprano saxophonist João Mortágua for the Portuguese Hexagon sextet resonate with all the textures that can be integrated into a linear program by the saxes, electric bass and drums without overdubbing.

Studio sophistication isn’t a negative for the Remote Viewers however since the snatches of programmed piano clips, vibes/marimba bar sustain and, encompassing strings and percussion clusters add extra sound colors to what is a kaleidoscope of reed shading. Having used this sort of hybrid composing for the last few years no fissures are apparent separating synthesized textures and the unison or solo reed elaborations from Petts, soprano/alto saxophonist Adrian Northover, tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Sue Lynch and alto saxophonist Caroline Kraabel.

At the same time emphasis is on each reedist contributing timbral dabs to the sound canvas rather than soloing for its own sake. Nonetheless arrangements on a track like “Paper Flowers in Water” offer clever counterpoint between altissimo smears and split tones from one saxist and unison riffs from the others as faux vibes pop and the bassist’s steady thump keeps the piece linear. In other cases, as on “Warpaint”, ascending saxophone harmonies draw aside enough for pointillist dabs of soprano sax nasality, clarion clarinet stutters and tenor saxophone scoops to liven up the mechanized idiophone, keyboard and marimba licks which initially characterize the sequence.

Integrating these textural impulses so that reed intertwining, whether expressing  freight-whistle-like pressurized or delicate peeping slides up against metallic bar pressure, percussion programming and plinking piano keys characterizes This Strange Place. That distinct melodies and linear development are highlighted within what could have been program music make it more of a triumph.

Fully in the tradition of ROVA and the World Saxophone Quartet but with additional rhythmic heft from drummer Pedro Vasconcelos and bassist Filipe Louro, Axes not only excels in unison and criss-cross vamps from the saxophone quartet, but also leaves space for individual expression. That means the specific styles of Mortágua, alto saxophonist José Soares, tenor saxophonist Hugo Ciríaco and baritone saxophonist Rui Teixeira are constantly on display.

Track frequently begin with positioned clambers up the scale by the soprano saxophonist with the subsequent four-sax connection ranging from Four Brothers-like measured unity to ROVA-like bellicose bites, honks and growls. Singly or in unison the saxophonists move through a variety of tempos and pitches, but more often cleave to a bright and bouncy groove.

As drum back beats and electric bass string sluices add to the unfolding narratives, the reedists display novel interaction within different sequences. These encompass  Ciríaco shredding textures in a tough tenor spot; bellowing snorts from Teixeira’s baritone; Soares’ sharp and slippery alto saxophone interludes; and top of the layer soprano saxophone trills from Mortágua. When tracks are based around four-part vamps as on “Triangle” the introduction that resembles an exotic Beatles-ballad shifts to multiphonics and climaxes as a circus-music-like rondo.

The program builds up to the extended and concluding title track where layered split tones, slide-whistle-like squeaks and slurs from all four reeds undulate until integrated into a full spectrum mosaic. The solid vamp separates into singular call-and-response challenges, harmonizes again and finally squeaks away with elevated pitches.

Programming electro-acoustic timbres so as to create a unique reeds dominated soundtrack or blending saxophone qualities to create a distinctive linear program, the spectrum of saxophone interaction is expressed strikingly on each of these discs.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: Strange 1. The Threat 2. Ella’s Stare 3. Substance D 4. Paper Flowers in Water 5. Lost, in a Lost Land 6. Warpaint 7. After Midnight 8. This Strange Place 9. The Canvas Prison 10. Lost Again

Personnel: Strange: Adrian Northover (soprano and alto saxophones); Caroline Kraabel (alto saxophone); Sue Lynch (tenor saxophone and clarinet); David Petts (tenor saxophone) and John Edwards (bass)

Track Listing: Hexagon: 1. Line 2. Angle 3. Triangle 4. Square 5. Pentagon 6. Hexagon

Personnel: Hexagon: João Mortágua (soprano saxophone); José Soares (alto saxophone); Hugo Ciríaco (tenor saxophone); Rui Teixeira (baritone saxophone); Filipe Louro (electric bass) and Pedro Vasconcelos (drums and percussion)