TO BE CONTINUED
Carol Liebowitz, piano 
Claire de Brunner, bassoon
Daniel Carter, tenor, alto, soprano saxophones, flute, trumpet, clarinet 
Kevin Norton, vibraphone, drums, percussion

REVIEW OF POETRY FOR THE FUTURE

This band intensifies its artistic focus with a horde of subtleties that follow a largely, free-flowing and undulating course of action. Here, bassoonist Claire de Brunner provides the lower end of the tonal spectrum and contrasts her band-mates throughout these largely, delicate and investigative dialogues that cast a semblance of vignettes woven together. While the bassoon is an instrument that is firmly nestled in the classical music domain via its rather stoic presence, de Brunner, pianist Carol Liebowitz and reeds / trumpet performer Daniel Carter enjoy a harmonious frontline musical relationship. Moreover, percussionist / drummer / vibraphonist Kevin Norton steers the pulse and generates polytonal clusters. 

The respective musicians are known for their improvisational abilities on a global basis, yet they are primarily based in the New York City area. Hence, their synergy materializes rather quickly on “Every Which Way,” constructed on Norton’s staggered pulse and pianist Carol Liebowitz’ popping notes that lead to various modalities and alterations in pitch. Moreover, Carter’s soft sax lines help create a quietly intense framework. On other tracks, de Brunner injects dark shadows, offset by Norton’s multihued vibes work and Carter’s resonating extended notes. 

“Cascadeascope” is a bit on the tumultuous side, marked by the bassoonist’s hearty improv, Norton’s punchy and polyrhythmic drum patterns and the pianist’s rolling notes that glide into the vortex as the band imparts tension and release type movements. But there are breaks in the action that generate numerous dips and spikes. The final track “River Run,” is rather perky and cheerful, tinted by Norton’s zinging vibes permutations and Carter’s whirling sax lines as 5-way exchanges meld into a buoyant free-form motif built on counterbalancing ebbs and flows. Overall, the musicians transmit irrefutable camaraderie while engineering instantaneous compositions that possess pliable foundations and fluidly developed mini-motifs. Indeed, it’s poetry-in-motion.

Glenn Astarita, All About Jazz
September 2017