Parker/Guy/Lytton at their best!
R. Hutchinson | a world ruled by fossil fuels and fossil minds | 11/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a great record, and unique among the recordings by the Evan Parker/Barry Guy/Paul Lytton trio. They are playing at their unbelievable telepathic best, and the tracks are separated by short all-percussion segments by all three players -- the "heartbeats." This works, for me, to punctuate and add texture to record as a whole. Most tracks are fairly short as well, so the effect is different from the typical live session with one or two long improvisations.
BREATHS & HEARTBEATS was one of the first Evan Parker records I heard, and I still think it's one the best. It would make a great introduction for anyone who hasn't heard him, and if you have, this is an essential addition to your collection. The trio doesn't seem to be playing together much anymore -- this December 1994 London recording is from their early-mid 1990s peak of activity."
Not Evan's best ever, but still great
R. Hutchinson | 07/11/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Evan Parker, Barry Guy, and Paul Lytton, three masters of their craft, a craft which very few have the abiltiy to even think about trying. Barry's stand-up bass could be louder in the mix but this is still required listening for Free-Improvisation fans and new recruits to the "genre". I may have the wrong number but I think it's BREATHS AND HEARTBEAT 4. Evan does some of that only-Evan-can-do-this stuff on soprano saxophone, the stuff where there are 2 and 3 melodic lines happening at once (no overdubs here mind you). First time I heard #4 I got dizzy and almost fell off of my bed. If Barry's bass was slightly louder this would be a 5 star cd."