Taking a cue from the classic Ornette Coleman album This Is
Our Music, this album shares nearly the same configuration featuring leader
Rodrigo Amado on tenor saxophone, Joe McPhee on alto saxophone and pocket
trumpet, Kent Kessler on bass and Chris Corsano on drums. Developing themes
with powerful free jazz, the music is deep and potent, beginning with “The
Primal Word” which displays Kessler’s thick and strong bass playing and some
very ripe saxophone over fast drumming. “This Is Our Language” opens with fast,
complex and epic drumming as Corsano really pours his heart into the music
followed by bass and McPhee’s brash and confident trumpet. Amado’s wild eyed
saxophone leads the team into an whopping collective improvisation, led by
McPhee’s herculean trumpet. Things quiet down to a series of long tones to the
finish. A rattling saxophone, bass and drum opening powers “Theory Of Mind (For
Joe).” There is fine pungent saxophone playing, complex drumming and Kessler
mining a deep tributary of pure sound on bass. After a short drum solo Amado
takes charge and the trio charges forth in their tribute to their bandmate
McPhee, underscored by massive bass. “Ritual Evolution” is way open free jazz,
unmoored in space and time. There are stabs of bowed bass and probing saxophone
before McPhee enters like a prizefighter bobbing and weaving and throwing
beautifully timed jabs of trumpet. Everyone comes to and equal footing and then
the music begins to take flight, moving faster before finally leveling out in a
rousing four way conversation. Roiling drums, bass and jabbing saxophone usher
in “Human Behavior” in a driving fashion before McPhee enters the scene on
trumpet, adding his unique voice to the proceedings. The group is able to stop
on a dime to allow Kessler space for a much deserved bass solo, before
regrouping and finishing the performance. This was an excellent album and it is
clear that the four musicians had a deep empathetic feeling for the music and
one another. To play in a free fashion as they did requires a great amount of
confidence and trust in fellow bandmates and that was unequivocally represented
on this album.
This Is Our Language - amazon.com
