I’ve seen the most magical of all magical rhythm sections in free jazz / improvised music - John Edwards on double bass and Mark Sanders on drums - several times now, the first time as the Foils Quartet with Frank Paul Schubert on saxophone and Matthias Müller on trombone. I was immediately blown away; my jaw literally kept dropping at the musical fireworks the two of them set off. Later, I saw them with Trevor Watts and Veryan Weston, then with Swiss saxophonist Omri Ziegele, and finally, three years ago, with John Butcher. However, the most spectacular gig was a concert with Roscoe Mitchell at the Météo Festival in Mulhouse in 2016. After ten minutes, the audience jumped to their feet and gave a standing ovation, yelling, shouting in pure ecstasy - right in the middle of the piece. Sometimes I think that even a way below-average amateur guitarist like me could play with them, and the result would be - let’s say - not a complete disaster.
Because It Happens is part of a gig at Café Oto (the other part, Not So Late, is available on a separate CD), and for this recording, the rhythm twins have enlisted the help of first class Polish saxophonist and bass clarinetist Mikołaj Trzaska. It’s no surprise that the trio is in full swing from the very first seconds,. Sanders stays firmly on the drums, which lends the improvisation a dark, driving character. Trzaska uses this for insanely fast runs, which are nonetheless underpinned by a deep spirituality. Many influences converge in his playing: Coltrane, Brötzmann, Shepp, Parker, and many more. His style is both energetic and subtle, he uses vibrato when appropriate but he can also sound very dry and abstract. Added to this is his excellent timing that leaves plenty of space for Edwards and Sanders. All of this is evident right from the opener “Running Loose”. Throughout the entire set a wide range of emotions is explored; there are moments of intense density followed by very lyrical passages (e.g., in “Creator of Creatures”) and superbly integrated solos (see Sanders’s drum solo in “Written By”).
However, the highlight of the album is the encore, “Light Inches”, which Edwards and Sanders kick off with an off-the-wall rhythm. The piece swings back and forth, Trzaska lets the notes dart through the room, breaks off abruptly, plays somewhere in the background, then Edwards takes the lead - the three musicians seem to be arguing over the direction of the improvisation, only to then agree almost instinctively on where to go. The rest is sheer madness in terms of power, harmony, and perfection.
Because It Happens is an outstanding album in every respect. Anyone who wants to hear state-of-the-art European free jazz (or “live composition”, as the musicians call it) should give this release a try.
Because It Happens is available on vinyl and as a download.
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