For nearly two decades Brazilian-born and Brooklyn-based saxist Ivo Perelman has been evolving his own path of improvised jazz, playing solo, in duos, trios & quartets with a number of downtown’s best musicians. One of Ivo’s most constant companions is contrabassist Dom Duval who has recorded on perhaps a dozen of Ivo’s previous duo & trio CD’s. Violinist Rosie Hertlein has also recorded and performed with Ivo on occasion and is yet another local talent who has knocked me out whenever I’ve heard her play although she remains beneath the radar screen of recognition. Over the past decade, Ivo has also developed as a painter, helping him to establish himself in a different art scene. His wonderful and evocative works have adorned a number of his recent discs, this one has an especially appropriate cover. Tenor sax, violin and contrabass. An interesting combination which works so well here. The trio continually weave their wares around one another magically, swirling bowed notes with vocal-like sax sounds, ever distinctive, pure and often intense. Rosie has a way of matching Ivo’s middle register just right while Dominic holds the low end down and adds his own depth, warmth and richness. This is a most exciting dialogue that keeps developing, shifting, bending, twisting and coming together time after time. There is a sense of calm at the center of the storm, there is also an aura of mysterious ghosts floating throughout like those Ayler-with-strings moments. There are also those occasional eruptions and well-selected screams which are perfectly shadowed by the strings as they navigate the rapids washing over all three members of this grand trio with one voice. The further out this trio goes, the more they remain in the same orbit circling around one another in balanced, elliptical threads. Beauty is a rare thing and this discs is a rare treat.– Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery Continue reading →