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John Blum and Jackson Krall: Duplexity
ByDespite the musicians' notoriety, the 2010s were a quiet decade for both, at least in terms of recorded output. Krall appeared on Steve Swell's Nation of We in 2012 (Cadence Jazz), and Blum had a pair of releases in 2009, with a solo disc called Who Begat Eye (Konnex) and a trio album with Sunny Murray and William Parker, In the Shade of Sun (Ecstatic Peace!). But since then, it seems, their work has been limited to live outings. This makes this project most welcome, especially when one dives into the music. It's clear that these two still have plenty to say.
Some freely improvised recordings begin tentatively, as the players seek to find a mutual foothold before they ratchet up the intensity. That is not Blum's approach. From the very beginning of the first piece, the aptly-titled, 21-minute "Blood and Bone," Blum charges in with mighty bass register rumblings, assaulting the piano as much as playing it, and Krall is right there with him, accentuating Blum's fusillade of chords with a mix of rolling thunder and well-timed detonations. But it's not just the explosive violence in Blum's technique that impresses; it's the sheer discipline and control that allow him in even his most tumultuous moments to hint simultaneously at the boogie-woogie and stride piano traditions, thus leavening his otherwise unrelenting onslaughts.
While at sixteen-plus minutes "Wind and Wing" isn't as long, it still possesses just as much passionand with a somewhat greater emphasis on the upper register, Blum's command and precision are even more noticeable. With very few moments of respite, the physicality of the music is striking, and the stamina needed to produce it is equally astonishing.
Kudos to Relative Pitch for bringing these two stalwarts togetherand fittingly for the label's 100th release.
Track Listing
Blood and Bone; Wind and Wing.
Personnel
John Blum
pianoJackson Krall
drumsAlbum information
Title: Duplexity | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Relative Pitch Records
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