Darius Jones

Usually involved in more bare-bones combo sessions, New York alto saxophonist Darius Jones expands his compositional and orchestral reach with and imposing four-part suite that touches on definitions of progressive art and avant-garde techniques. Sounding more formidable in proclamation than performance, fLuXkit Vancouver was commissioned by the Canadian city’s artist-run Western Front. It’s interpreted by the composer, his Manhattan associate drummer, Gerald Cleaver, and a quartet of Vancouver’s most accomplish string improvisers, violinists Jesse Zubot and Josh Zubot; cellist Peggy Lee and bassist James Meger.

Drawing equally on the Fluxus movement’s non-hierarchical definition of art and his hosts’ multidisciplinary creativity, Jones’s musical mediations expand from the intersection of chordal and rhythmic instruments. At the same time as the sequences develop expected and unexpected sonic designed definitions, the saxophonist’s harsh and splattering snarls mixed with spetrofluctuation and altissimo runs are prominent. But so too are equivalent pointillist jabs and torqued squeaks from individual string players. Lyrical harmonies are expressed by the string section, but not on its on. That’s because Arcadian reed tones often join the exposition.

Contrapuntal evolution among instrumental timbres define the tracks. That means that even on the almost 18-minute kaleidoscopic “Rainbow” frequent interludes and asides, including Cleaver’s cymbal smacks and metallic crunches, Lee’s flying glissandi, Meger’s rugged multi-string slashes and Jones’ siren-like shrilling arise alongside coordinated string rubs and regularized linear drum backbeats. Intermittent theme reaffirmations are prominent here and on the other tracks as well.

Without compromising the suite’s cohesive narratives, enough experimental string gyrating and grating idiophone and saxophone diversions are prominent that the profoundly modernist scope of Jones’ jubilant programme is confirmed.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Fluxus V5T 1S1 2. Zubot 3. Rainbow 4. Damon and Pythias

Personnel: Darius Jones (alto saxophone); Jesse Zubot and Josh Zubot (violins); Peggy Lee (cello); James Meger (bass) and Gerald Cleaver (drums)