Irène Schweizer / Hamid Drake

Adding to her series of imposing percussion-keyboard arrangements is Swiss pianist Irène Schweizer’s Celebration, a precursor to her recent 80th birthday. A live concert from when she was a mere 78, the nine tracks confirm flexible interplay alongside American drummer Hamid Drake, 14 years her junior.

Energetic and inventive throughout, Schweizer’s dexterity in these situations may be because she plays drums herself and intimately knows the kit’s capabilities. For his part Drake, whose list of collaborators is as long as the pianist’s, makes the session a partnership not a contest, projecting ruffs, press rolls, thumps and pops with a maximum of finesse. Schweizer’s dexterity and sonic range is thus given full play. She emphasizes a walking bass and resonating stresses in a way that would give Ray Bryant pause on “Blues for Crelier”; adds a touch of kwela and hi-life to the unfolding rhythm as a joyous salute to South African musician friends on “Song for Johnny, as Drake’s smacks propel the undulating theme. Making full use of the instrument’s inner piano harp and outside wood, she strums and plucks strings on “Stringfever” while powerfully smacking its side. And she even injects a touch of pseudo ragtime tickles into the conclusion of “A Former Dialogue”, which mostly consists of modern tempo and pitch changes with unexpected octave jumps.

Seconded by Drake’s prudent time-keeping and rolling patterns an exuberant swing emphasis burrows into all of the tracks sometimes emphasizing a groove that calls for finger-snapping. The kinetic track that defines Schweizer’s mature improvising however is “Nickelsdorf Glow”. Presto and profound she moves the narrative from airy tinkles to pedal lowing with detours and returns to outlining multiple patterns – all in less than three minutes.

Another souvenir for her piano-drum collection, the disc confirms the pianist’s continued inventiveness and relevance.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. A Former Dialogue 2. Hot Sunflowers 3. The Good Life 4. Twister 5. Stringfever 6. Blues for Crelier 7. Nickelsdorf Glow 8. Celebration 9. Song for Johnny – In memory of Johnny Dyani

Personnel: Irène Schweizer (piano) and Hamid Drake (drums)