Aurealis by Robert Dick John Wolf Brennan and Daniele Patumi

23 Mar

Written by Lee Prosser
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Robert Dick has been reviewed on these pages - his talent and versatility are, as The Duke so aptly put it, "beyond category." Free improv, Jimi Hendrix covers - he's can execute with grace, guts, warmth & style. The other cats I'm not so familiar with - John Wolf Brennan an Irish-born, Swiss-residing pianist/composer who, like Dick, straddles the worlds of improvised & composed music, & Daniele Patumi is of the northern Italian jazz/improv scene.

Lest you think this is one of those tres-avant free-for-all's that's overflowing with bloodless doodling, guess again. Though there's plenty of exquisite, empathetic free-flowing improvisation, this trio set is imbued with a genial lyrical feeling that gets under your skin. They can play with a classical chamber group's delicacy, a pop composer's sense of melody and an unfettered, globe-hopping jazz player's sense of one-world-ness (think Don Cherry, Tony Scott). "A From U" has a beguiling melody that harks to traditional British folk music (think Vaughan Williams, John Renbourn, even early Jethro Tull!).

Brennan plays with economy & assurance (think Monk, Bud Powell), shining especially on his composition "Chi" where his playing recalls Spanish great Tete Montoliu. Patumi plays with the passion & dexterity of a Flamenco guitarist, recalling Mingus in the "whoop" he gets from slappin' them strings. There's a few moments where things get a bit too abstract (think John Cage) for my taste, but those are few & far-between. Aurealis is acoustic/trio music-making of the highest order.