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Henry Kaiser & Ray Russell: The Celestial Squid

By Troy Collins
March 12, 2015
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Henry Kaiser & Ray Russell: The Celestial Squid

The Celestial Squid is an unprecedented summit meeting between two renowned guitarists: legendary British session ace

Ray Russell

guitar, electric
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Russell and idiosyncratic Bay Area experimentalist

" data-original-title="" title="">Henry Kaiser. Although best known as a veteran studio musician, Russell's groundbreaking early records revealed a penchant for unbridled free jazz, culminating in his 1971 masterpiece Rites and Rituals (CBS). Since then, Russell has enjoyed a lucrative freelance career, working with artists ranging from

Gil Evans

composer / conductor
1912 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Gil Evans to David Bowie, but other than a few recent fusion-oriented endeavors, he hasn't returned to the provocative expressionism he helped pioneer in the early seventies—until now.

Kaiser's reputation as an eclectic virtuoso of catholic taste is well-documented on numerous unclassifiable releases, including high-profile collaborations with many of his heroes, like guitarists

Fred Frith

guitar
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Fred Frith, David Lindley and

Richard Thompson

guitar
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">Richard Thompson. In the same cooperative spirit, Kaiser asked Russell if he wanted to revisit the sonic experimentation of his seminal efforts. The rest, as they say, is history.

Kaiser assembled an impressive cast of West Coast musicians at Berkeley's Fantasy Studios for this freewheeling session, which utilizes simple head melodies and skeletal frameworks as guideposts for extended improvisations. An expanded rhythm section flanks the guitarists, with bassists

Michael Manring

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Michael Manring and

Damon Smith

bass, acoustic
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Damon Smith on electric and acoustic instruments, and

Weasel Walter

drums
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Weasel Walter and

William Winant

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">William Winant manning the drums. The lineup is further augmented by vanguard saxophonists

Steve Adams

saxophone, alto

" data-original-title="" title="">Steve Adams, Joshua Allen,

Phillip Greenlief

saxophone
b.1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Phillip Greenlief and

Aram Shelton

saxophone
b.1976

" data-original-title="" title="">Aram Shelton, who evoke the boisterous horn sections featured on Russell's first albums.

With throbbing electric basslines and lockstep polyrhythms underpinning skronky guitars and caterwauling reeds, the ensuing thicket subtly recalls the Downtown sound of

Bill Laswell

bass
b.1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Laswell's 1980's productions. The opener, "guKTen LIMPo," sets the mood with a thorny post-bop motif underscored by sustained electric tones, percolating bass and clarion horns. "That Darn Squid" invokes the aforementioned era's cagey post-modernism in a series of dynamic episodes, ranging from woolly collectivism to pointedly lyrical guitar exchanges.

It's not all Sturm und Drang though: the spectral euphony of the ethereal ballad "In Another Life" is hypnotically beguiling; and "The Enumeration" begins acoustically with Kaiser's introspective pointillism, slowly building in intensity to showcase Russell's blistering fretwork. "Disinterested Bystander" employs a bluesy, noir-inflected theme and a shuffling gait to fuel probing solos, culminating in Kaiser and Russell's most ardent interplay. The finale, "Conversation #14," is the most elaborate, composed and conducted by Allen using

Cecil Taylor

piano
1929 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Cecil Taylor's intricate cell structure notation.

Although six-string pyrotechnics abound throughout the date, this is no mere cutting contest; Kaiser and Russell elicit some of the most inventively conversational guitar playing of recent vintage, bolstered by their bandmates' spirited contributions. Rivaling Kaiser's prior collaborations with fellow guitarists, The Celestial Squid ranks among his finest releases, and even more importantly, stands tall as a bold career milestone for Russell.

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Track Listing

Gukten Limpo; In Another Life; That Darn Squid; The Enumeration; Victims; Disinterested Bystander; Construction #14

Personnel

Henry Kaiser

guitar

Henry Kaiser: guitar; Ray Russell: guitar; Steve Adams: sax; Joshua Allen: sax; Phillip Greenlief: sax; Aram Shelton: sax; Michael Manring: bass guitar; Damon Smith: acoustic bass; Weasel Walter:drums; William Winant: drums.

Album information

Title: The Celestial Squid | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Cuneiform Records

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