A matter of casting

Like in a movie, good casting is the key. If you have clear roles that border on stereotype and find the right faces to fill them with life, chances are you have a hit. For the first half of the concert, it was an absolute hit. Colin Stetson on bass sax did a very impressive strongman act grounding the trio, all bulging muscles and energy, laying down circularly breathed drones and wicked single note rhythms. Throwing himself into the instrument, you know. Above him Matana Roberts on alto, calm but warm behind spontaneously accumulating fog, offering endless melodies, rather free of the rhythm. At first I thought, if Ornette were a Lounge Lizard, but the longer she played, the less sense that made. Her role was as sort of the detached one. Behind the drums Shahzad Ismaily. Now we had seen a thoughtful drummer in the set before (I smell a trend), but this guy was downright brooding. He wouldn’t commit stick to skin before he unanimously had won a debate against himself as to the purpose and effect of said action. Until he lost it for what seemed like seconds then caught himself. Great performance from all three so far everybody playing their parts beautifully.

But then Colin Stetson switched to alto, and that unbalanced the cast. The set became sort of gabby. Not bad, but. Still, as long as everybody stuck to their role, great music. Plus this was the only set that actually benefited from the amplification, very powerful.

Right now in the background, one Miss Platnum. I promise I will take a pic, but don’t provoke a comment.

Out for today, Lutz