Crevulations

Stan Tracey and Evan Parker recorded their studio debut, Suspensions and Anticipations, in September of 2003. The album came out in early 2004. Soon after, the pair performed at the Appleby Jazz Festival, a live set preserved on Crevulations. This admittedly surprising partnership is producing some very interesting music and brings out the softer side of Parker. Tracey's jazz leanings are much stronger than any other musician the revolutionary saxophonist has been associating with in the '90s or 2000s. As a result, Parker plays only short bits of circular breathing (in "The Streatham Walk," in particular), and otherwise focuses on instantly deconstructed melodies played with a warm, expressive tone. His cadenza in "Babazuf" provides a highlight: it begins with a moving tonal theme gradually put through circular breathing variations, and then back to a more soulful tune upon the piano's reentry. Tracey may be more of a jazzman in the traditional sense, but he too shakes off his old habits to meet Parker halfway. His playing here is inventive and shape-shifting, while remaining more tonal and rhythmic than, say Veryan Weston's or Keith Tippett's, in similar settings. The chemistry between the two players is exemplary and the music sounds fresh. Suspensions and Anticipations had a few empty passages, but Crevulations is consistently interesting, with moments of unexpected beauty. "Babazuf," which often sounds more composed than improvised, is worth the price of admission alone. Recommended to all Parker fans, but also to those seeking an easier point of entry into his imposing discography. ~ Francois Couture|