sensoria

These days, when I have a CD I want to listen to without being distracted, I tend to do it on long drives. Last night on my way back from Albany, I listened to Sensoria (Leo Records), a CD by a group comprising soprano saxophonist Heath Watts, violinist Nancy Owens, trombonist M.J. Williams, and bassist Blue Armstrong. In general, one of the great things about free improv is the infinity of possibilities—each different combination of musicians invariably creates something unique. Better still if that group listens hard and works together sans ego and with a sense of common purpose. That happens here. A multiplicity of colors, lines, and textures defines this music, as does a tender attention to spontaneous detail. For some reason, as I listened, it occurred to me this music could be the soundtrack to a painting by Phillip Guston. I'm sure I can't explain why and wouldn't want to try, but hours later, I'll stand by that description. I'd like to thank Heath (whose playing evidences an amazing variance of timbre and attack and sheer imagination) for sending this my way. A more attractive album of non-idiomatic free improvisation would be hard to find.

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