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Ivo Perelman: Molten Gold

By Mike Jurkovic
April 13, 2023
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A tactile, umbilical cord tension binds you to the slithery movements advanced on Molten Gold, the umpteenth in a slew of hard-core free jazz releases, one of them being the twelve disc set Reed Rapture In Brooklyn (Mahakala, 2022), from the generative mind and horn of saxophonist

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivo Perelman. Recorded at ParkWest Studio by Jim Clouse, Perelman, in full form and fever, assembles fellow rogues trombonist Ray Anderson, bassist

Joe Morris

bass, acoustic
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Morris and drummer

Reggie Nicholson

drums
b.1957

" data-original-title="" title="">Reggie Nicholson for over eighty minutes of pure and spontaneous combustion.

Four high-flying, twenty-minute-plus tracks, ("Aqua Regia" clocks in at just under twenty-nine minutes) make up Molten Gold two CDs. And with a combined CV that includes performances with

David Murray

saxophone, tenor
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">David Murray,

Henry Threadgill

woodwinds
b.1944

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Threadgill,

Roscoe Mitchell

saxophone
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Roscoe Mitchell,

Anthony Braxton

woodwinds
b.1945

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

Dewey Redman

saxophone, tenor
b.1931

" data-original-title="" title="">Dewey Redman and a host of other vanguards, the quartet arm wrestle and barnstorm from the blaring start ("Warming Up") to Perelman's hushed frenzy finish ("Gravity")

Tour de force isn't anywhere near accurate enough to describe Molten Gold, given Perelman's long track record for blistering the sensibilities while calming the savage beast. The saxophonist by nature is ever ready to let it fly, and all four of his bandmates reach to the higher dimensions on the roiling, rubato, stuttering and exquisite "Liquid," which serves as a kind of anti-epilogue to the vast stretches of free form, roof-rocking liability that steers the whole of "Aqua Regia." From its ominous start to its lyrical flights and pleading calls, "Gravity" closes the session out on the highest of high notes. Sure this music, this ultimate display of self-expression, is not everyone's algorithm or cup of tea, but it sure beats ninety-five percent of what is out there.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

CD1: Warming Up; Liquid. CD2: Aqua Regia; Gravity.

Personnel

Ivo Perelman

saxophone, tenor

Ray Anderson

trombone

Joe Morris

bass, acoustic

Reggie Nicholson

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Joe Morris: acoustic bass.

Album information

Title: Molten Gold | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Fundacja S?uchaj!

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