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Partita

Julian Argüelles

Basho Records SRCD 17-2

Julian Argüelles has a rich, almost fruity, warbling tenor tone and one of the purest soprano sounds (at times reminiscent of the sweet stridency of the oboe) in the music; on this album, recorded in New York in 2005, he utilises both skills to maximum effect.

Unlike much of his previous work (notably his sonorously beautiful with-strings Provocateur album As Above So Below), Partita focuses on the freer side of Arg°elles's art, taking its cue from the non-chords-based trio music of Ornette Coleman or Sonny Rollins.

Joined by something of a dream team, bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Tom Rainey, Argüelles first explores the hinterland between freedom and structure in seven originals ranging from scrabbling tenor-led trio workouts, through more tender-sounding soprano skirls to terse, fiercely interactive pieces triggered by simple but memorable phrases.

Continuing the programme with seven short (nothing over two minutes) freer pieces that run the textural gamut from harsh screams, to flurries and howls, all interwoven with superbly responsive, crisply assertive rhythm-section work, Argüelles then concludes the album with a sweetly harmonised overdubbed horn chorale, 'Tempus'.

The trio (with John Hebert replacing Formanek) will be touring the UK in October 2006 with the Liam Noble Quartet (featuring Phil Robson, with the same rhythm section); on this showing, this should provide a series of memorable concerts.