UK-based Slam Productions has three new releases, some veering off the cliff and others right in the middle of the current.
Pianist Howard Riley gives a gorgeous solo recital on this collection of twelve ideas. He does two reads of the standard “Long Ago and Far Away” with each shining with different and clever charms. His own touch displays a deft stride on “Feelings Allowed” and warm pulsations on “As It Was” with some high pitches on “Clip It”. A nice bopper “both Hands” and reflective “Line Play” display a romantic heart. This guy’s got a sensitive and alluring grasp of musicality.
Perlin Noise is comprised of Irene Kepl/vi, Alessandro Vicard/b, Villy Paraskevopoulos/p, Stephanie Schoiswohl/as and Mark Holub/dr. The material includes some elliptical Bartokian strings juxtaposed with bright alto work on the askance “Barocco” to some flailing strings and sticks on the ten minute “Melodia”. Breathy mouthpiece pants and rustling percussion comprises the title track and scratching bows and jagged chords grind during “Cellula” with a mix of thrash and crash for “Il Moto Dei Corpi”. Spontaneous combustions?
Bruce Coates plays tenor and soprano sax, Barry Edwards is on electric guitar, Tervor Lines takes on the bass and Ed Gauden sticks to drums on six pieces with the word “Locked” in them. Coates gives a rich aria on soprano for “Locked Jaw” and trudges with the team on “Locked Down” with his pitch in the high octane level with Gauden driving things loosely on the flailing “Locked Up”. Edwards’ guitar is angular for “locked On” creating effects with Coates’ tenor for “Locked Out” and the team stretching out for all kinds of exotic moods on the 21 minute “Locked In”. Intuitive concepts.