Record Reviews

OKUDEN: MAT WALERIAN / MATTHEW SHIPP / WILLIAM PARKER / HAMID DRAKE ~ EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY BUT IT DOESN`T MATTER BECAUSE FAT CAT IS GETTING FATTER ESP 5037 (Barcode: 825481503723) ~ POLAND ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music Recorded: 2018 Released: 2020 This is the fourth album by Polish (resident in NY) Jazz multi-instrumentalist / composer Mat WalerianFind albums by this artist, released by the reanimated legendary NY ESPFind albums on this label label. The lineup, under the OkudenFind albums by this artist moniker, is expanded to a quartet and includes all three musicians who took part in the three previous recordings: pianist Matthew ShippFind albums by this artist, bassist William ParkerFind albums by this artist and drummer Hamid DrakeFind albums by this artist – icons of the American Free Jazz / Improvised Music scene. The 2CD album presents six (one a three-part piece) original compositions, all by Walerian. The music, recorded during one session, is an archetypal example of a metaphysical conversation between experienced musicians, which moves freely from subject to subject, in perfect coherence and mutual respect. Although Walerian sets the tone and direction, ever so gently, moving between the saxophone, clarinets and flute, the rest of the quartet follows suit fluidly and the musicians add their input to the conversation with elegance and remarkable aptitude. Despite the “usual” aggressive atmosphere associated with Improvised Music, this recording offers a completely calm and orderly fashion of mutual exchange and development of ideas, relaxed cooperation and as strange as it might sound results in “pleasant” aural vistas, certainly not what one would expect from these musicians. Walerian proves to be not only an excellent catalyst, but also an anodyne. As a result, the music offers a remarkable calmness and ease, without any compromise whatsoever of the complexity and quality of the music. Overall this is definitely the strongest and most mature statement by Walerian so far and brings on a true satisfaction to see a Polish Jazz musician perform with esteemed American partners without any inferiority complex. It must be said that as far as Shipp, Parker and Drake are concerned, this is also some of the best work they recorded, and they all have an extensive recording legacy to their credit. In many respects this album is much better and more interesting than many Free Jazz / Improvising Music albums released in Poland lately, where this idiom seems to be lost wondering in the desert and devoid of clear musical / spiritual leadership, with many of the original Avant-Gardists being no longer with us. This album is warmly recommended to all listeners of Free Spirited Jazz music anywhere and definitely worth the effort of searching out a copy, which will be rewarded by a couple of hours of highly aesthetic and spiritual experience.

Updated: 07/03/2021Posted: 07/03/2021

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