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Assif Tsahar: In Between the Tumbling a Stillness

By Mark Corroto
March 22, 2019
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Assif Tsahar: In Between the Tumbling a Stillness

As the saying goes, In Between The Tumbling A Stillness, recorded in 2015 in Tel Aviv, "comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Saxophonist

Assif Tsahar

saxophone
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">Assif Tsahar, who sticks to tenor throughout, opens "In Between" like a lion, if that lion were

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler. The 35-minute piece draws from the fire music of the 1960s, propelling forward with an energy that is indefatigable.

Credit to bassist

William Parker

bass
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">William Parker and drummer

Hamid Drake

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Hamid Drake. The dynamic duo have been the power source for saxophonists from

Fred Anderson

saxophone
1929 - 2010

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Anderson to

John Dikeman

saxophone, tenor
b.1983

" data-original-title="" title="">John Dikeman,

Charles Gayle

saxophone
1939 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Gayle, and

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Br?tzmann. While the saxophonist has performed with each of his bandmates before, the three had never recorded as a trio. The combination here is quite effective. Drake is (as ever) happy to illustrate the sounds with varied styles from reggaeology to swing, rock, and free drumming. Tsahar's tenor approach sounds like a complement to that of the Brazilian born

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivo Perelman. While the latter works the upper register, Tsahar mines the bottom to great effect.

Dare we say that fragments of

Lester Young

saxophone
1909 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Lester Young's horn can be heard here? "A Stillness" is the "out like a lamb" companion to the roaring opener. Tsahar soothes the ear on this brief and breathy epilogue.

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Track Listing

In Between; The Tumbling; A Stillness.

Personnel

Assif Tsahar

saxophone

Assif Tsahar: reeds; William Parker: bass; Hamid Drake: drums.

Album information

Title: In Between the Tumbling a Stillness | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Hopscotch Records

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