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Sitting Bull: Sitting Bull

By Karl Ackermann
February 7, 2016
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The piano and percussion duo may be two-thirds of that most ubiquitous trio formation, but it is not often heard. Among those who have tackled this duo format are former Yes members, keyboardist Patrick Moraz and drummer

Bill Bruford

drums
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Bruford—both with solid jazz credentials—who had been down this road more than twenty years back with two E.G. Records releases, Flags and Music for Piano and Drums (1983, 1985) but with multiple keys and percussion instruments, their efforts were technologically embellished. Pianist Ir��ne Schweizer has recorded duos with a number of drummers including

Han Bennink

drums
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Han Bennink,

Louis Moholo-Moholo

drums
1940 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Louis Moholo-Moholo, and

Andrew Cyrille

drums
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Andrew Cyrille. And, of course,

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

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

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor captured their 1979 Columbia University performances on Historic Concerts (Soul Note, 1980). A new release, Sitting Bull, with Italian pianist Federico Pozzer and drummer Aleksandar ?kori? stands out in its diversity and approach to this setting.

Pozzer had studied classical piano from childhood and into his time at the Conservatory of Vicenza. It may not be coincidental that his thesis was on the celebrated Ukrainian pianist, Misha Mengelberg who had also recorded with Bennink. Serbia born ?kori? and Pozzer met in Holland in 2013 when both were attending the Conservatory "Prins Claus" in Groningen. The two had recorded as part of a self-titled quintet, Falga (Cantina, 2015). Their synergy—and diverse musical interests—make Sitting Bull an intriguing and unusual album.

There are twelve pieces on the album, with nine of them being improvised, one ("Pigeons") composed by Pozzer and covers of Thelonius Monk and

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane. Three of the pieces clock in around one-minute each; more sonic ideas than fully executed concepts. The opening "Hoka Psice" features dramatic washes of cymbals along with bells and rattles and what may be Pozzer tinkering with the inner workings of the piano. "Dakota" has Pozzer dropping in chords, then letting the silence settle in between. Monk's "Criss Cross" is somewhat true to the original albeit, a harder, more spikey interpretation. An odd—and unintentionally humorous—fire and brimstone preacher is the backdrop for "What is Your Life (Part 2)"; the speaker's high drama blending perfectly with the frenzied improvisations of Pozzer and ?kori?. The last half of Coltrane's "Sun Ship" is given to an amazing and exhausting ?kori? solo.

There's not a lot of down time on Sitting Bull though "Crowded" and "Pigeons" are quietly melodic breaks in the hyper-complexity that pervades throughout this album. Despite the free nature of the music, there's a clear and consistent vision; Pozzer and ?kori? finding an intuitive empathy as they trade-off between complementing each other and playing in near-seclusion. This album is as good as it is different and well worth the listening time.

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Track Listing

Hoka Psice; Dakota; Criss Cross; What is Your Life (Part 2); Prelude to Oasis; Oasis ( Joy ); Sun Ship; Oasis; Crowded; Luigia Non Fare la Cattiva; Two Humming Birds; Pigeons.

Personnel

Federico Pozzer and Aleksandar ?kori?

drums

Federico Pozzer: piano; Aleksandar ?kori?: drums.

Album information

Title: Sitting Bull | Year Released: 2016 | Record Label: Self Produced

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