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Ghost Trees: Intercept Method

By Mark Corroto
April 27, 2024
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John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane and

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali might not have been the first to record as a free jazz duo with Interstellar Space (Impulse!,1974), but the pair did set the bar for future performances from the likes of

Frank Lowe

saxophone, tenor
1943 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Lowe and

Rashied Ali

drums
1935 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali,

Peter Brötzmann

woodwinds
1941 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Peter Br?tzmann/

Peeter Uuskyla

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Peeter Uuskyla,

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Braxton/

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Max Roach, and

Joe McPhee

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe McPhee/

Hamid Drake

drums
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Hamid Drake. Admittedly, this genre of music might send many a traditional jazz listener packing.

Fear not. The duo Ghost Trees creates accessible free jazz, and the use of that term is not an oxymoron. Intercept Method from Tenor saxophonist

Brent Bagwell

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Brent Bagwell and drummer

Seth Nanaa

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Seth Nanaa create approachable music, similar to that of say,

Bill McHenry

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill McHenry and

Andrew Cyrille

drums
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Cyrille or

Joe Lovano

drums
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Lovano and

Billy Hart

drums
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Hart.

What distinguishes the music of Ghost Trees from the above duos is Bagwell and Nanaa's preparation for their performance. Intercept Method is a double LP, the duo's fourth full-length LP and it follows the self-released Universal Topics (2021), both of which were recorded at the infamous Rudy Van Gelder studio. The pair worked and reworked their music while practicing during the pandemic. Their method was not unlike the style of the punk band Fugazi. Like Ian Mackaye's process, Bagwell and Nanaa did not so much put pen to paper composing music as they experimented, rephrased, and refined their improvising language.

That is evident with the first track "Carnation" with Bagwell's languid tenor coaxed along by the pulse. Nanaa's drumming is the accelerator here and throughout the recording. They exercise some energy music with "Spherical" and "Meanwhile Gesture" plus an insouciant blues "Lessons in Renunciation." The tension on display is purposeful and it serves the duo's mission, be it delivering an

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler—like simple melody "Lymars" or the chamber music of "Station Keeping." Like the finest musicians, Bagwell and Nanaa have developed their own language, one that can be appreciated by all.

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Track Listing

LP1: Carnation; Station Keeping; Spherical; Lesson in Renunciation; Super Eight; Lymars; LP2: Leevin; Tannh?user Gate; Meanwhile Gesture; Blush Response; Intercept Method; Amplitude.

Personnel

Ghost Trees

Brent Bagwell

saxophone, tenor

Seth Nanaa

drums

Album information

Title: Intercept Method | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Self Produced

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