Search - Joe Morris, Ken Vandermark :: Like Rays

The pairing of the fastidious single-noted genius of Joe Morris's free-guitar with the raised middle finger of Chicago tenorist Ken Vandermark's punk-jazz was an inspired one, as Vandermark's extroversion is expertly complimented by Morris's thoughtfulness. Both Morris and Euro-pianist Hans Poppel are more comfortable in the supportive cushion of chamber-jazz situations than is Vandermark, and naturally lend themselves to textural supporting while Vandermark squeaks out front. Often these meshings become the point, such as when Morris's careful scrapings merge with Poppel's angular accents on "So As to Touch." This is not to say that Vandermark lacks sensitivity, but he prefers long-ish lines, in the manner of Sam Rivers, which his band-mates tear into like gentle ferrets. And he's interested in texture, too--note the joy in his popping bass clarinet on "Parlance." The interplay is spot on, and this is by far the finest disc to come out of Knitting Factory in some time. --D. Strauss