When drummer, composer and bandleader Tomas Fujiwara debuted his Triple Double ensemble in 2017 with an album of the same name, it was hardly the first ensemble he’s led or co-led. But on the configuration of it alone, this ensemble qualifies as his most intriguing.
For this sextet, Fujiwara did away with bass but brought in two guitarists (Mary Halvorson, Brandon Seabrook), two trumpets (Ralph Alessi, Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet, actually), and Gerald Cleaver to play drums alongside him. And that’s where the intrigue comes in: Fujiwara is able to treat this as two drums/trumpet/guitar trios playing side by side, or three duos of each instrument or any possible grouping in between. You still get his advanced mixture of scored and improvisational composition style that he brings to all of his dates, but he can get really creative with how he arrays all this talent at his songs.
Shortly before the curtain of contagion descended upon the world, Fujiwara and his doubly-good crew recorded their second album and it’s only now emerging in March 2022. Befittingly, the album is called March, and it proves that Fujiwara ain’t near done exhausting the possibilities with this band.
With six players at Fujiwara’s disposal to mix and match as he pleases, you don’t know what he’s going to hit you with. In fact, “Pack Up, Coming For You” starts with just a triple, no double: Fujiwara, Halvorson and Bynum. After a short motif introduction, the three plunge headlong into skronk-land – Halvorson’s guitar growling particularly savage – before re-emerging with the second trio that in its own way introduces order that quickly breaks down again. Finally the whole six bring the song to an end. The yo-yo between civilized and feral makes for a fun time going on the aural roller coaster ride.
Tomas Fujiwara’s use of pairing up like instrument creates the sparks not possible with only one of each instrument. “Life Only Gets More” gets lifted by the pulsing, atmospheric guitars of Seabrook and Halvorson, and even the two drummers soloing just beneath can’t knock down that peaceful vibe (though it’s intriguing as hell to hear them push hard against the serenity). The pairings aren’t limited to similar instruments: One trumpet and guitar duel on “Wave Shake and Angle Bounce” while the other guitar and trumpet harmonize together and the pair switch sides after playing the head in unison.
There are plenty of instances where incendiary individual performances make for standout moments. “The March of the Storm Before the Quiet of the Dance” is a twisting march, Fujiwara style, providing the platform for flights of fancy from each of the fearless guitarists. It’s Alessi’s turn to go crazy – with plunger and all – on “Docile Fury Ballad,” which lives up to the middle word of the title more than the first and last ones. At the four-and-a-half-minute mark the fury grinds to a sudden halt and restarts under a completely different guise, a thunderous double-groove with Halvorson’s screaming axe over the top.
“Silhouettes in Smoke,” a wind down from the unbridled energy of the prior two tracks, featuring attractive brass interplay but is also noted by Fujiwara comping on vibes. Lastly, the album ends on a double: “For Alan, Part II” is a lengthy drums-only piece from Fujiwara and Cleaver in an apt dedication to the leader’s old drumming teacher. Though no notes or chords are present, the song has steady development and a lot of groove.
Tomas Fujiwara’s twin trios doubles the chops and doubles the fun with the welcome Triple Double follow-up, March. It’s out on March 4, 2022 and you can preorder/order this Firehouse 12 Records release from here on Bandcamp.
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