Peace Beyond Conflict

Pianist/composer Burton Greene is noted for his multifarious approach to music, evidenced by his involvement in New York City's early-'60s free jazz scene amidst his forays into the world of electronics. Here, Greene teams with the mega-talented acoustic bassist/composer and part-time bandleader Mark Dresser. With this 2002 release, the duo embarks upon a series of original works along with Thelonious Monk's "Shuffle Boil." The proceedings get off to a rather awkward start on the opener, titled "Peace Beyond Conflict," where Dresser's overtly disjointed excursions seemingly overpower Greene's gently constructed voicings and lush melodies. However, by track three ("South Florida Summer Day"), the artists achieve a harmonious coexistence via their counterbalancing statements and intuitively rendered musings. Greene's line of attack consists of massive block chords and swirling clusters, as he occasionally melds elements of free jazz with tuneful motifs. The musicians engage in a few playful episodes as they pursue some good-natured call and response-type dialogue in concert with their often eloquently stated unison choruses. Besides the rough start, the duo manages to generate a good deal of interest throughout many of these loosely arranged pieces. ~ Glenn Astarita