unlike any sax/ string collaboration ive ever heard. leigh and brötzmann never try to overpower one another, instead, collaborating as one and respecting one anothers prowess, with each leading the music at various points while leaving room for the input of the other. i do want to shout out leighs ability to create chaos with her pedal steel without resorting to amp distortion, its amazing. ronnie dion
The guitarists first solo album (like the actors first Hamlet) is a hoop that eventually has to be jumped through...and Mary Halvorson has finally risen to the challenge...a truly brilliant improviser and technician (I remember being knocked out by a performance she gave with Anthony Braxton in London),she has added layers of emotional and spiritual patina to those skills...the pre-release track here demonstrates all those qualities in spades...I see this release will include work by Noel Akchote (whose music plays a key part in my listening regime)...
So,until its release "I eat the air,promise crammed"...
Update! This album is now released and I can "count myself King of infinite riches"...this release catapults Mary Halvorson into a different league for me...wonderful,wonderful,wonderful! John Cratchley