As co-founder of the legend avant-jazz ensemble the Microscopic Septet at the dawn of the 80s and a longtime fixture in New York’s creative jazz scene since his arrival there in 1977, Dave Sewelson has lent his stirring, gritty baritone saxophone in the service of many Downtown avant-jazz collectives over the years as well as leading his own dates from time to time. July, 2025 was one of those times with the release of his album of extended improvisation performances, Muscle Memory (Mahakala Music).
For Muscle Memory, Sewelson brings considerable free jazz muscle for the occasion. Steve Hirsh (drums), Steve Swell (trombone), Matthew Shipp (piano) and William Parker all have deep connections with the NYC Downtown arena. Sewelson is no stranger to any of these guys, especially Parker, as he’s been a member of the latter’s The Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra from the start. Their association goes nearly as far back as Parker’s with Shipp.
Going purely on instincts, the familiarity among the five is the critical ingredient for Muscle Memory. Hirsh elaborates: “Free improvisation requires thought, yet improvisation at the highest level requires no thought.”
The symmetry is so good on “Loved Ones” that no one in the rhythm section has to compete in the same space; they quickly find their roles and settle into them, combining for a unified backing. That sets up Sewelson and Swell as the two engage very actively with each other; their interaction is akin to finishing each other sentences. The tumult fades in orderly fashion to give the floor over to Shipp, whose solo intonations keeps well inside the imaginary markers that define this impulsively-composed song. Both horn players get their own features, too, helped along by Hirsh’s sensitive drums. Coming full circle, the two are creating again right alongside each other.
Picking up the smallest cues, each participant build up from those and at the same time converge their threads together until “Melisma” evolves into a tenacious piece. But the character of “Melisma” is distinctive from “Loved Ones,” pushing forward more aggressively, racing to get from one idea to the next one. One trait shared with the prior performance is a Shipp solo in the middle of it, a thoughtful, inventive clinic on free jazz piano. When the tempo slows down again, Sewelson steps to the fore and through his horn tenders a thesis on the linearity between jazz’s past and future.
As is so often the case, Parker is the glue that holds it together when a heated or scattered passage would otherwise spin out of control. His behind-the-scenes herding becomes more obvious during “Muscle Memory,” providing a north star by which the other four use the chart their course. Dave Sewelson masterfully mines the notes between the just intervals and at another moment, Swell uses false notes to become a second percussive instrument.
Still going strong as ever, Dave Sewelson left it all on the field in leading a dream team with Matthew Shipp, William Parker, Steve Swell and Steve Hirsh. Muscle Memory is every bit as good as it should be with this personnel. Get it today over at Bandcamp.
*** Dave Sewelson CD’s and vinyl on Amazon ***
- Soft Machine – ‘Thirteen’ (2026) - March 4, 2026
- Devin Gray – ‘Hz Of Gold‘ (2026) - March 2, 2026
- Triple Blind – ‘Cold Walk’ (2026) - February 27, 2026
