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Alcyona Mick & Tori Freestone: Criss Cross
ByThe mesmeric "Hermetica" opens this set with Freestone on flute and guest vocalist Brigitte Beraha singing with unfettered vivacity, delivering wordless vocals to the haunting melody played in harmony with Freestone's flute. Soprano saxophone and piano exuberantly chase each other's lines around on the fast paced "Exchange." On the lengthy "Goodnight Computer" Freestone's searching exploration of the upper registers of the tenor saxophone is utterly compelling. The playfulness of "Mrs PC" the jokey title an allusion to both Paul Chambers and John Coltraneadopts a catchy, bluesy hook in a similar mood to Trane's Giant Steps version.
Thelonious Monk's angular title track soon evolves from the head to stretched out improvising with Freestone on tenor and a Monk-ish cadenza from Mick. The two then pick up the melody as a sprightly duet. "Press Gang" a traditional folk number arranged by Freestone, is sung by Beraha (her second and final contribution to the album) with typical mellifluousness. This is elegant, engaging and original music, played with magnificent panache.
Track Listing
Hermetica; Charmed Life; Strange Behaviour; Exchange; Goodnight Computer; Mrs PC; Criss Cross; Press Gang; El Barranco.
Personnel
Tori Freestone: tenor and soprano saxophone, flute; Alcyona Mick: piano; Brigitte Beraha: voice (1, 8).
Album information
Title: Criss Cross | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Whirlwind Recordings Ltd
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Alcyona Mick & Tori Freestone
CD/LP/Track Review
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Criss Cross
Whirlwind Recordings Ltd
Paul Chambers
John Coltrane
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