In 1976, Joe McPhee released "Tenor", a solo album of ... well yes, tenor saxophone, that appears to have been an eye-opener at that time for Ken Vandermark, showing how the single instrument could combine sonic experimentation with a kind of natural lyricism, an approach which has been deeply ingrained in the musical approach of both musicians. If anyone deserves a tribute album, it's the now 86 year old icon of free jazz.
Vandermark does it with style and class. Six pieces are partly composed, the other five are spontaneous improvisations, and to create even more variation, he switches instruments frequently: bass clarinet, tenor, Bb clarinet and baritone sax. The music is intimate, gentle, warm and welcoming while at the same time refreshing and innovative. All tracks are named after flowers, put together as a bouquet for McPhee. Like McPhee, Vandermark is a story-teller, taking the listener into the logic of each piece, moving them along with his singular dynamics of shifting intensity, speed and volume, combining emotional power with an avant-garde sense of abstraction, with deep bluesy feelings - as on the goosebumpy "Sunflowers" - and more exuberant excursions such as on "Queen Anne's Lace".
The music is Vandermark's, without a doubt, yet the sensitivity for McPhee's sound is present in every piece.
In 2017, McPhee released a solo alto album, called Flowers, dedicated to musicians he admired. I guess Vandermark continued the tradition with a deep bow of respect and gratitude.
What a treat.
Listen and download from Bandcamp.
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