Music critics are often derisively dismissed as attempting to do something akin to “dancing about architecture” but dancing to avant-garde jazz might be just as tricky. However, the two women and a guy moving to the crooked paths of “Hands That Feed” in the video premiering above make a convincing case it can be done, and done well. And on sand, no less.
Guitarist Dustin Carlson’s “Hands That Feed” from his newly released Air Ceremony provides the dense shapes that puts melody and rhythm in a circular flow and harmonically expansive interplay with Nathaniel Morgan (alto saxophone), Eric Trudel (baritone saxophone), Danny Gouker (trumpet), Matt Mitchell (Prophet 6), Adam Hopkins (bass) and Kate Gentile (drums). Think a guitar-centric Tim Berne.
Composer, teacher, collaborator, sideman and, yes, guitarist Carlson has been a fixture in the NYC scene since high school. He’s worked with Ches Smith, Matt Mitchell, Michael Bisio and Anna Webber, among many others. Air Ceremony (Out of Your Head Records) is the debut album by his band of the same name.
But back to that video. Directed by movement and voice artist Natalie Deryn Johnson, this short film features the choreography of Isabel Umali. Umali is also one of the performers, as is Sebastian Abarbanell and Dominica Greene. Carlson has previously collaborated with Umali, and the built-in familiarity undoubtedly helped Umali to solve the riddle of Carlson’s esoteric creation. It’s the perfect communion of music and motion.
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