GUY / CRISPELL / LYTTON– Deep Memory
Intakt: Intakt CD 273
Barry Guy: bass, composer; Marilyn Crispell: piano; Paul Lytton: percussion.
Recorded Powerplay Studios, Maur, Switzerland, may 21st 2015.
This is a new collection of pieces from a trio whose previous outings, such as Odyssey and Ithaka, nodded to Homer’s poetry. Indeed, this theme is not lost, with the galloping ‘Return of Ulyssses’ (track 5). In this collection, Guy has composed pieces inspired by Irish painter Hughie O’Donoghue. O’Donoghue’s 2007 Berlin exhibition provides the titles for each piece. In the liner notes, Guy talks of the inspiration that he drew from O’Donoghue’s "deep love for the act of applying paint to a canvas – an emotional act with an historical perspective" and he sees parallels in the act of layering paint with the music of this trio, which "in a similar way engages with the tradition of the medium whilst exploring new avenues of expression for the inquisitive listener."
Guy’s bass playing captures the plaintive quality of a Spanish guitar on the opening track ‘Scent’, which calls to mind ‘Song’ from his Blue Shroud CD. Following this, a complete change of tone and style, sees him skitter vigorously up and down the fret board, on ‘Fallen angel’, track 2). This mixture of the rushing and frenetic, with the contemplative is at play across all of the tracks in this set.
While this is a set of some of the finest improvisers working in contemporary jazz, and there is plenty of energetic soloing from all concerned, what stands out is the way in which the players are completely working together. Each piece feels as if it was composed to provide a clear statement of theme but with enough space for the always excellent Crispell to push her considerable keyboard skills with relish, and for Lytton’s percussion to find the rhythmic spaces and colours around the improvisations. The recording, from a single day, works Guy’s themes with passion and eloquence, and makes this a completely captivating 50 or so minutes of listening.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
Intakt: Intakt CD 273
Barry Guy: bass, composer; Marilyn Crispell: piano; Paul Lytton: percussion.
Recorded Powerplay Studios, Maur, Switzerland, may 21st 2015.
This is a new collection of pieces from a trio whose previous outings, such as Odyssey and Ithaka, nodded to Homer’s poetry. Indeed, this theme is not lost, with the galloping ‘Return of Ulyssses’ (track 5). In this collection, Guy has composed pieces inspired by Irish painter Hughie O’Donoghue. O’Donoghue’s 2007 Berlin exhibition provides the titles for each piece. In the liner notes, Guy talks of the inspiration that he drew from O’Donoghue’s "deep love for the act of applying paint to a canvas – an emotional act with an historical perspective" and he sees parallels in the act of layering paint with the music of this trio, which "in a similar way engages with the tradition of the medium whilst exploring new avenues of expression for the inquisitive listener."
Guy’s bass playing captures the plaintive quality of a Spanish guitar on the opening track ‘Scent’, which calls to mind ‘Song’ from his Blue Shroud CD. Following this, a complete change of tone and style, sees him skitter vigorously up and down the fret board, on ‘Fallen angel’, track 2). This mixture of the rushing and frenetic, with the contemplative is at play across all of the tracks in this set.
While this is a set of some of the finest improvisers working in contemporary jazz, and there is plenty of energetic soloing from all concerned, what stands out is the way in which the players are completely working together. Each piece feels as if it was composed to provide a clear statement of theme but with enough space for the always excellent Crispell to push her considerable keyboard skills with relish, and for Lytton’s percussion to find the rhythmic spaces and colours around the improvisations. The recording, from a single day, works Guy’s themes with passion and eloquence, and makes this a completely captivating 50 or so minutes of listening.
Reviewed by Chris Baber
