Joe McPhee, Peter Brötzmann, Kent Kessler, Michael Zerang - The Damage Is Done
Joe McPhee : trumpet, alto saxophone Peter Brötzmann : alto & tenor saxophones, tarogato, b-flat clarinet Kent Kessler : bass Michael Ze...
Peter Brötzmann: alto & tenor saxophones, tarogato, b-flat clarinet
Kent Kessler: bass
Michael Zerang: drums
As they have in the past while touring with the Tentet, they step away and perform in this more intimate lineup. This quartet has released two previous recordings, Tales Out Of Time (hatOLOGY, 2004) and Guts (Okka, 2007), with The Damage Is Done's two discs recorded live at Alchemia in Krakow, Poland in March of 2008.
While the players can (and do) perform volatile energy jazz here, their preference is for music that's dissectible enough for the players to be distinguished in parts and direction.
The obvious reference point here is the legend of
Kessler and Zerang open "Alchemia Souls," with itchy bowed bass and sound effect brushes on drums. Brötzmann enters, playing a persistent tarogato before McPhee's twitchy alto joins. The rhythm section maintains the energy through constant motion. The more affable music making here comes at the urging of the rhythm section. Slowing down the pulse or playing with mallets coaxes the horn players to decelerate and clarify the sound.
The breadth and power of these four players comes through with an exhaustive clarity in this crisp and vigorous live recording. (from ALLABOUTJAZZ)