By Paul Acquaro
Inspired by International Women's Day, my mind jumped to a recording from Argentinian saxophonist Ade Rave and Portuguese drummer Sofia Borges that deserves some attention - it's both intense without being aggressive and powerful without resorting to sheer volume. Borges' drumming provides pulse and animation while Rave's woodwinds are focused and provocative, whether being expressed exploratorily or through melodic ideas.
The album begins with Borges' drumming and is soon joined by Rave playing what sounds like perhaps the sax without the mouthpiece - or somehow otherwise prepared. She toys with tones while Borges provides generous support around the tightly wound balls of sound. This type of intensity continues on the second track, but this time the focus is different. The sax is more abstract, the soprano sax feels slightly strangled, musical lines being extruded with some force. Borges provides a percussive accompaniment that fits with uncanny precision. Other tracks, like 'Nomadic Route' is a more traditional free jazz piece with a mostly tonal, non-repeating tenor sax melody playing with (and off) the accompaniment of the drum kit.
The Unseen Pact is a packed musical delight, for a first meeting, both players are highly in-tune.
0 comments:
Post a Comment