https://telepathicband.bandcamp.com/album/telepathic-mysteries-vol-1
Genre: Free Jazz
Rating: 4/5
Release date: October 16, 2020
Often we’re looking for free improvisational music to push boundaries of chaos and aggression but this is closer to In a Silent Way than Machine Gun.
Bandleader Daniel Carter plays saxophones, clarinet, and trumpet. If you’re not familiar with his music, he has a pretty interesting discography that includes important cutting edge records with Matthew Shipp and William Parker.
Patrick Holmes adds more clarinet. The second track, Sign Ghost Theatre uses both clarinets simultaneously. They float around together in an ethereal dance.
Honestly, I respect Holmes making a go of it on the clarinet. Fair or not, it just simply isn’t the most in demand instrument these days and even less so in avant-garde corners. On this record he’s kind of a hauntological blast from the past. He MAKES it work.
Pianist Matthew Putman adds beautiful texture to the music with such a keen ear for improvisation as to never be in the least intrusive. It’s almost like you have to listen for him but the record would miss his contribution considerably if he weren’t there. Smart fellow, apparently, a successful scientist and a jazz piano resume that includes working with Ornette.
Hilliard Greene, a Berklee alumn, takes a similar role on bass. Some of it, interesting, and perhaps overly modest, comes out toward the spacey end of the fourth track S Cape Cinematic. For a bit there it almost has an early Pink Floyd feel to it. It’s interesting how subtle and involved this record is. There’s also some excellent bowed work on the opening track Nun Zero. And it’s so humble. He respects the listener to see the beauty of it without shoving it down your throat. If you just listen once you’re not likely to catch on to it fully.
Federico Ughi is an Italian percussionist who has worked extensively with Carter. In accordance with what’s going on musically with this record he’s pretty laid back and accomplishes a great deal by providing space. The entire band is very deeply in tune with what’s up. Egos are well in check paying deference to the final product.
Warmth Highest 