Partisans - By Proxy
Julian Siegel's fusion outfit here begins with the ominous advance of 'Advance' with a laid back soprano sax line interspersing the heavier groove from drummer extraordinaire Gene Calderazo and guitarist Phil Robson. The guitar solo lays down plenty of meaty hard bop language as well as crunchy chords with just the right touch of overdrive. Soprano duets with smooth melodies and the odd squealing outburst. Beautifully recorded, the album replicates the band's live energy very well. Next up is the heavier 'By Proxy' with guitar and tenor blending diminished harmony in a satisfying angular head. Feel switches suddenly to clean guitar tone with a cheeky, chirpy section. Fuzz guitar continues into a technical solo a la Tribal Tech. Plenty of China hits from Calderazo chop through the mix before a third section barges in with syncopated arrogance. A burbling tenor solo owes much to Mark Turner and the mellower approach to tenor. The primary source of energy here is certainly the ballistic antics of Calderazzo on drums which reach a peak before a cheeky coda referencing an earlier quirky passage. 'Mirrors' provides an interesting combination of irregular time signatures and what sound like melodic palindromes. Again Siegel's tone is smooth and sophisticated rather than the very full and masculine approach of Brecker and Chris Potter. 'Mbadgers' is the funkiest tune on the record with plenty of China, Wah and noodly ejaculations. Broken grooves with plenty of rhythmic chicanery are the order of the day here, discombobulating in a delightful way. Siegel is at his most adventurous here with wild outside patterns swopping up to screamy altissimo shenanigans. Calderazzo's closing hi hat propels everything forwards as a Hendrix style solo takes centre stage. Choked hats again maintain the thrust and cue another interjection. Bass clainet sneaks into the foreground finally for a moment creating a exciting groove canvass for Calderazzo's explosive solo which ends this tune. A faux-country and western groove opens 'Lapdog' with Robson taking a leaf out of Grant Green's sonorities. Tenor lays down plenty of traditional bop lines here with a great sense of historical appreciation. Calderazzo's cymbal choices are largely faultless but that very distinctive China, especially hard-panned in the mix does predominate in a way which a crash or splash wouldn't have. The guitar switches effortlessly from juicy voicings to groovy riffs before the head presents itself once more with a funky modulation at the close. 'Munch' begins with acoustic (emulation?) and washes of cymbal rolls before a very peculiar melody floats through the background with ease. The ingeniously titled 'Partisans #1' has a stop start moment before some face melting guitar effects take over. The album as a a whole immensely enjoyable but sometimes there seems to be three different musicians working with slightly different predilections for the chaotic. Siegel sounds so mild mannered at times compared to Robson's grunting, although bass clarinet remedies this rather. Calderazzo plays with that New York assertion only Americans seem to fully grasp and really sounds like the powerhouse of the ensemble. Radio wave sounds and squawky tones make for really great listening. Metric modulations return us home again. Traitor barks its opening notes with some force. Rim clatterings break up the form and sound wonderfully free and loose. Driving ride then propels the group into beast mode with angular soloing and beefy comping. The band's bop connection is evident here with solid language and Coltrane quotation. Calderazzo is let loose momentarily to play on his own before the others fight to reel him back in. Prelude to a Kiss is in the style of a hidden track with samples, drum n bass groove and guitar noise laying the ground for Siegel's sensitive interpretation of this Ellington classic. A slight mismatch of energies again is present but the result is not unpleasant. In conclusion, a great British jazz outfit which needs to continue making music for many years.