Tenor saxist Ivo Perelman teams up with a pair of bass clarinetists on his latest two releases. No titles, just moods and sonic interplay.
Ivo Perelman does two discs worth of songs with bass clarinetist Rudi Mahall for a collection of surprisingly accessible tunes. The title-less pieces range from just over two minutes to twelve and a half, with mixtures of reeds creating some rewarding moments. The gents pop and puff and end up bright and clear on “1”, flutter with their pads on ”4”, and delightfully bop on “5” for side one. Side two has Mahall contentedly sighing before going altissimo with Perelman while the two heave ho back and forth on “2”. Some clever harmonics take place on “4” and the team gurgles to a close on “7.” Subdued and mostly sublime.
The single disc with Perelman and Jason Stein is described in the liner notes as including ‘some of the most meditative’ music by the saxist, and it’s a pretty spot on description, depending on your types of prayers and meditations. While I tend towards the more Byzantine liturgy, Perelman and Stein do some soft breaths on “1” and float like candle smoke on “2” before ending in a high pitched cry. The tongues slap on “3” and the gents toy around with their mouthpieces on “4” while gasping out scratches on “6.” Rich subtones and breathy vibratos rule on “6” before the service ends with a boppy “8”. Are stained glass windows included?