Review: Michigan area improvisers, Rob Hartig (alto sax) and Ric Troll (percussion) dish out an agile program of duets, while conveying spacious musical environs during this multifaceted program. And for two folks locked in a studio, performing with a limited arsenal of instruments – although Troll uses cymbals, drums, gongs and chimes – the overall muse equates to a surprisingly polytonal affair. Enhanced by a nicely engineered recording process, including an effective sheen of reverb and echo, the duo conforms to a gently flowing pace here. Hartig’s warm tone meshes wonderfully with Troll’s melodic cymbal swashes and accents. They work thru soul-stirring balladry via the alto saxophonist’s soft lines and resonant phraseology, as the duo occasionally delves into free form territory. The musicians kick it up a few notches on the piece titled “Mantis Motion,” partly due to Troll’s rolling and tumbling drum parts. Ultimately, the musicians do indeed; render a vibe that could only emanate from the heart. Who says odd instrument pairing type duets are generally meant to be of an avant-garde nature? That’s not the scenario here, as the artists’ successfully navigate variable frameworks, while remaining consistent and unquestionably focused throughout. (Recommended…)
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