Joel Futterman & Ike Levin

Superficially the two extended tracks on this CD feature two veteran musicians improvising in a hard and fast fashion on “Track One” and with some softer and slower interludes on “Track Two”. Significantly what Infinite Dimensions actually records is two instance of exceptional, no-holds-bared creative music. Collaborating on record for almost a quartet century and over 15 discs, pianist Joel Futterman and tenor saxophonist Ike Levin have never strayed far from the essence of Free Music, widely appreciated in the 1960s and 1970s. Levin has also played with the likes of Kash Killion and Reggie Nicholson; while Futterman is know for his work with Kidd Jordan and Alvin Fielder,

Prestissimo piano chording sets up the first improvisation with the saxophonist’s jagged cries and altissimo squeals reflecting the ongoing interpretation. However as he spews and sputters split tones and vibrations, brief lyrical asides are heard and reappear occasionally throughout the program. Similarly, despite the Sturm und Drang Futterman brings to his playing with pedal point power, shifting glissandi and hard comping, he slyly sometimes slips a snippet of Monk themes into his solos. This is within the context of wider expression though as the piece continues as Levin studs his solos with rapid reed bites and the pianist slithers and slides in sympathy. This tandem timbre accumulation of multiphonics and note bending is further redefined around the half-way mark as super speedy chording downshifts to a more relaxed interface when tones from keyboard and soundboard are more widely spaced. Without abandoning his renal squeaks and slurs, Levin also moderates his tone in part so that a pre-modern swing feel is sensed from both. Episodes of strained honking and key pounding are still there, yet the final sequence matches reed whorls and flattement with piano plinks resulting in single note finale.

Of paramount importance was sonic flow , which is affirmed in  the briefer “Part Two” which evolves in a complementary fashion, but in reverse. Thin peeps from Futterman’s Indian flute make up the introduction until horizontal and methodical piano pacing set out the theme, soon affiliated with swift bites and bits from the saxophonist. Accelerating to altissimo reed squeals and energetic key pounding the duo attains concentration, until slower pitched shading from Levin and rolling textures from Futterman create a final sequence that more languid and melodic than what preceded it, with sax split tones reminding us that the exercise is more speculative than soothing.

Improvisers at the top of their game, Levin and Futterman show how much can be accomplished sound wise even with just two acoustic instruments.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Part One 2. Part Two

Personnel: Ike Levin (tenor saxophone) and Joel Futterman (piano and Indian Flute)