Coming hot on the heels of the latest in a long string of duets from a fabled duo, Ivo Perelman finds new direction with a new improvising partner.
A happy by-product spun off the Truth Seeker trio meeting with Mark Helias and Tom Rainey, Duologues 1-Turning Point pares down the trio to just Perelman and Rainey, a rare occasion where this highly prolific saxophonist is in a duet with a drummer.
The revelation comes from Rainey now engaged directly with Perelman, his role expanded to lean harder into his abilities to create hues and complexion that mix in with a tenor sax. For “Track 01,” the drummer is making every strike of the cymbal, snare drum — everything in his kit — give off the right resonance at the right time, in order to partner with Perelman…not merely accompany him. Even during Rainey’s brief time alone, it’s a direct extension of the dialogue he’s having with the saxophonist.
As we’ve come to expect, Perelman likewise adapts to the changed environment. The thing with him, though, is that he adjusts his approach but never adjusts his style. As Rainey’s racing patters sets “Track 02” off on a hastened pace, Perelman elongates his quavering notes, offering a complimenting contrast. Eventually, he does uncoil but it’s made more resounding by coming later after a gradual buildup.
Perelman leads off “Track 03” on his own, putting Rainey in a reactionary position, and the drummer opts for the tone-rich sonority of his tom-toms applied judiciously. Meanwhile, Perelman makes up melodies from thin air while staying as attuned to his partner as his partner stays attuned to him.
“04” stretches out over nearly thirteen minutes, containing some of their best interplay. Perelman progresses through his ideas to an internal rhythm that Rainey is able to instantly decode and accentuate. Perelman spins a fee-floating melody across much of “05,” until Rainey takes the reins and introduces a samba styled pulse which prompts Perelman to reach back to his roots and pivot into a funky Brazilian direction.
Perelman saves his most ardent expressions for the final, seventh track. Here, he’s summoning the tenor masters before him while demonstrating his own contributions toward a establishing a new tradition, including pushing up the highest limit of the saxophone’s register.
Spin-offs usually aren’t as successful as the original thing. That axiom never applies to Ivo Perelman projects, though, and for Duologues 1-Turning Point, a peak performing Perelman gets Tom Rainey’s best.
Duologues 1-Turning Point will be available via the streaming services and other usual outlets soon.
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