Recently, Tim Berne celebrated seventy spins around the sun. That’s roughly fifty years after his eminent career as one of avant-garde jazz’s foremost alto saxophonists, composers and bandleaders got started when Berne arrived in New York City and tracked down the man who mentored him to greatness, Julius Hemphill.
Tim Berne isn’t necessarily marking this occasion by looking back, he’s moving forward that takes his music into new places by unveiling a stimulating new trio. Yikes Too — the second cooperative album release project between Screwgun Records and Out of Your Head Records — is two full albums under one title, one live and the other produced in the studio.
Berne’s new trio is new in combination only: his association with drummer Tom Rainey traces back to the early 80s while Gregg Belisle-Chi joined the Berne orbit around 2020. Both have appeared in numerous Berne-led lineups over the years but the composer saw the opportunity to trot out new compositions that exploits the dynamics between three insightful and explosive players. The three play with a lot of edginess and originality, which is encouraged by Berne’s scores.
The head on “Oddly Enough” is classic Berne, with Belisle-Chi uniting with Berne’s knotted lines with a fuzz guitar. Belisle-Chi applies rock concepts on his solo, distinguishing himself from longtime Berne cohort Marc Ducret’s normal approach, and the handoff to Berne finds both of them wailing up to the same note but the guitarist stays in the race and interacts telepathically with the saxophonist.
Rainey becomes a bigger factor on the live take on “Oddly Enough,” using his snare as a lead instrument and the bass drum nearly taking on the missing bass part. Belisle-Chi and Berne crescendo together as both are absolutely lit.
“Guitar Star” layers on the players; first Belisle-Chi continuing his metal state of mind and Berne joining in to interact that fills in more pieces of the composition’s puzzle. Rainey is a sparkplug, his swirling rhythm refusing to settle as he’s completely dialed in to the duet happening in front of him. Back in Seattle, Belisle-Chi is feeling more introspective and lyrical and Berne matches his vibe.
“Yikes” moves through several Berne motifs, saving the most explosive one for last. “Yikes 2” is composed free jazz in front of a dazzling Rainey drum solo.
“Julius Hemphill” has the aura of poignancy rightfully afforded to a figure so central in Berne’s career; Rainey seems to always know the right percussion touches to put on a song to make sure all the emotional nuances come across just right.
Forty-plus years together is why Rainey always has his finger on the ever-fluid pulse on “Marmite Woman.” For “Julius Hemphill” Berne’s heart-rending paean to the central figure in his career, the drummer provides fine percussion touches that help propel the song along its emotional journey.
But truthfully, every Berne song plays out constantly transiting from one point to another. “Trauma” works on a difficult, slow rift until it begins to alternate with a different, faster-paced one. Belisle-Chi deconstructs the original riff for a spell before he and Berne puts it back together again. The stage rendition of this song boasts a lively give-and-take between Berne and Belisle-Chi and an imaginative, quirky drum solo from Rainey.
“Poky(e)” is a slowly simmering rubato, cleverly disguising the distinction between what is charted and what is unplanned. “Sorry Variations” is a funky unison theme sandwiching Belisle-Chi and Rainey making hay with a guitar/drums dual attack before Berne steers things back to the variations.
A few of Berne’s tunes appear on the live set only (and the reverse is true of a few of the studio songs). “Curls” goes for the throat with a vicious Berne sax assault and later joined by rolling thunder from Rainey. Belisle-Chi’s own audacious showcase understands this is a rock song at heart, but with advanced harmonics and greater freedom. “Clandestine” rocks even harder, always threatening to spin out of control but never does.
One common trait of all Tim Berne Ensembles is that everyone in these bands are fearless but the trio with Gregg Belisle-Chi and Tom Rainey could be his brashest one yet. There’s too much artful turmoil here to contain on one disc, and that’s why Yikes Too is a double-disc delight.
Yikes Too goes on sale January 17, 2025 and you can pre-order/order it from Bandcamp.
- Tim Berne, with Gregg Belisle-Chi + Tom Rainey – ‘Yikes Too’ (2025) - January 13, 2025
- Will Mason Quartet – ‘Hemlocks, Peacocks’ (2025) - January 11, 2025
- Roscoe Mitchell – ‘One Head Four People’ (2024) - January 6, 2025
