In February 2010, bassist
John Lindberg's Tripolar
was recorded live at the Roulette Club on West Broadway in New York City, and the album which resulted was released on the
Jazzwerkstatt
label the following year. The trio's drummer was
Kevin Norton
who, like
Lindberg
, has worked extensively with both
Anthony Braxton
and
James Emery
. The third member of
Tripolar
is saxophonist
Don Davis
of the
Doctor Nerve
band, a seasoned improviser whose early appearances on record included milestone collaborations with
Michael Mantler
Carla Bley
;
Karl Berger
,
Phillip Johnston
, and
the Microscopic Septet
. On the longest track, "One for Ayler," the spirit of a beloved free jazz archetype is beautifully invoked.
conjures all of the essential elements that comprised
Albert Ayler
's musical persona. The essence of
Ayler
grew directly from gospel and R&B traditions; other ingredients were joyous airs that have been likened to Elizabethan nursery rhymes and echoes of military band music the young African-American saxophonist absorbed while in the armed forces overseas (one of these was the "Marseillaise" which
playfully rechristened "La Mayonnaise"). Naturally enough for a native of southeast Michigan,
's "MC5" was named for Detroit's own original masters of plugged-in psychedelic rowdiness. This full-throttle release of raw energies feels very much like an encounter with one of
Peter Broetzmann
's units. The bracing "Send Off," on the other hand, is a swirling multiphonic workout for unaccompanied bassist.
Live at Roulette NYC
is an exceptionally fine example of where
has gotten to after decades of hard work and dedication to the art of creative improvisation. It should be regarded as one of the very best recordings ever to have appeared under his name. ~ arwulf arwulf