Alto saxophonist
Francois Carrier
has put together a compelling group of original compositions for this studio meeting with pianist
Uri Caine
, bassist
Pierre Cote
, and drummer
Michel Lambert
. The intriguing opener,
"Karuna,"
never follows a predictable path, always conveying an air of mystery in a blend of
post-bop
and
avant-garde
.
Lambert
introduces
"Entrance 3"
with a furious solo, with a delayed entrance by
Carrier
Caine
playing in unison in a insistent military cadence before the piece takes flight into pure
improvisation
. Both
"Enfants de Ciel"
(with
strongly suggesting the influence of
John Coltrane
) and
"Jeu"
(built upon a series of strident exchanges between the musicians) were improvised on the spot. The title of the tense
"As Crazy As"
may suggests schizophrenia, but the quartet's seeming chaos has a method to its madness. This is superb music by advanced musicians who refuse to settle for the status quo. ~ Ken Dryden