Full Metal Jazz Revolutionary Eclectic

Agit-prop without words, this vigorous creative music was the visceral reaction of leader/percussionist Dennis Warren to the apprehended insurrection on Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. Concurrently penetrating Free Jazz, the six tracks are also a continuation of the commanding sounds the Boston-based Full Metal Jazz Revolutionary (FMJR) group has been creating since the early 1990s. As well as the pointed political titles, the chief difference between Improvisations for Democracy and earlier FMJR sets, is that while those were more acoustic with soloists such as Marco Eneidi and Raphe Malik, this one is more rhythm oriented. Featured, besides Warren, featured are James Robbins on bass and electric bass; guitarists Tor Synder and Dave Ross; plus trumpeter Vance Provey and saxophonist Joe Giardullo.

Throughout, perhaps subtly suggesting the division between democracy followers and democracy destroyers, a challenging paradigm is set up between the skyscraper scraping triplets, rips and half-valve effects projected by Provey and the energetic chording and riffing from the two guitarists. Meanwhile Robbins’ thumb pops and fluid thumps and Warren’s  diversified beats create a near-Rock bottom, but without heaviness or excess. As a Free Music ensemble FMJR also ensures that despite dazzling interludes showcasing slurred guitar fingering, timed brass shakes or the churning pulses created by the bassist and drummer, horizontal motion is unaffected. Provey’s portamento interjections on “Empire Consequences” for instance may be reminiscent of Donald Ayler’s contributions or  Synder and Ross may flange and spill notes as if they’re aiming for a jam-band riff challenge on “You Count”, but no matter in what pitch, tone or direction the polyphonic miasma sways, sequence completion remains paramount.

Ending with pounding timbales, pumping bass line and horn flutters on the wailing, Spanish-tinged “Ritmo Contra Los Insurrectos”, the band and disc posits that unregimented free music should overcome concentrated and dangerous mob rule any time. But with right-wing pundits, politicians and opportunists constantly grasping for power in the US and elsewhere, we can only hope that in the future this fine instance of regulated freedom won’t be heard as a lament for democracy rather than Improvisations for Democracy.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. The Big Lie Bigger 2. Empire Consequences 3. Pandemic Space Blues 4. Democracy vs Insurrectionists 5. You Count 6. Ritmo Contra Los Insurrectos 

Personnel: Vance Provey (trumpet); Joe Giardullo (alto and tenor saxophones, piccolo); Tor Synder and Dave Ross (guitars); James Robbins (bass, electric bass) and Dennis Warren (drums, timbales, digital percussion)