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Louie Belogenis: Outer, Inner, Secret

By Mark Corroto
April 17, 2024
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Let's not call the music by the trio Terton dangerous. Because, although no one could be injured while creating it or listening to Outer, Inner, Secret, the path is precarious and unpredictable. Well, that is, if one is not a true believer. Let me explain. Terton in Buddhism refers to a person, in this case, persons, who discover and reveal ancient teachings at a spiritually efficacious time. For our purposes, the ideas or principles are passed on through sound via saxophonist

Louie Belogenis

saxophone
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Louie Belogenis, bassist

Trevor Dunn

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Trevor Dunn, and drummer

Ryan Sawyer

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Ryan Sawyer.

Belogenis is a student of ancient sounds, and here we are referring to the music of

Albert Ayler

saxophone, tenor
1936 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Ayler and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane. His earliest recordings in the 1990s with either

Sunny Murray

drums
1937 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Sunny Murray or

Rashied Ali

drums
1935 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashied Ali summoned the music of these forefathers, who themselves were Tertons. In recent times, Belogenis has remained on the path with the Flow Trio which includes

Joe Morris

bass, acoustic
b.1955

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

Rashid Bakr

drums
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Rashid Bakr. Their previous release Winter Garden (ESP Disk, 2021) included guest

Joe McPhee

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe McPhee. He also released the stellar Blue Buddha (Tzadik, 2015) with

Dave Douglas

trumpet
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Douglas,

Bill Laswell

bass
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Laswell, and

Tyshawn Sorey

drums
b.1980

" data-original-title="" title="">Tyshawn Sorey.

Like the above referenced recordings, Outer, Inner, Secret is freely improvised, or should we say capable of revealing more hidden teachings? Belogenis, Dunn, and Sawyer have previously released Twice Told Tales (DIW, 2003) along with saxophonist

Tony Malaby

saxophone, tenor

" data-original-title="" title="">Tony Malaby. The twenty years between recording dates do not diminish the connection between these three artists. The interplay on these ten tracks is remarkable. Opening with some vibrato, Belogenis summons an almost spiritual call to prayer. Like Coltrane, there is a contemplative nature about this music, with Dunn's bass front and center on "Unconditioned," the tactile sense prevails. Even when Dunn picks up his bow on "Foretold" and "Arising" there is texture about the sound as Sawyer adds accents and Belogenis' roisterous saxophone takes flight. The busyness of "Transmute" contrasts nicely with the quiet sounds of "Embody" and the peaceful wish of "Dissolving." Let's just say the music is enlightening.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Outer; Unconditioned; Foretold; Arising; Unfolding; Transmute; Inner Embody; Secret; Dissolving.

Personnel

Louie Belogenis

saxophone

Trevor Dunn

bass

Ryan Sawyer

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Louie Belogenis: soprano saxophone.

Album information

Title: Outer, Inner, Secret | Year Released: 2024 | Record Label: Tzadik

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