Blistering, ferocious, harsh, abrasive, confrontational -- quite often, the adjectives that are typically used to describe
death metal
,
grindcore
, and
metalcore
have also been used to describe the more militant side of
free jazz
.
Charles Gayle
and post-1965
John Coltrane
-- two examples of
avant-garde jazz
taken to a brutal extreme -- are not for the faint of heart any more than
Slayer
or
Cannibal Corpse
. In fact, some of
Coltrane
's most devoted fans have a hard time comprehending his post-1965 work. But
the AACM
has, on numerous occasions, demonstrated that not all
favors a take-no-prisoners aesthetic, and
Song Songs Song
easily represents that kinder, gentler school of outside playing. This 2004 date, which finds
Jeff Parker
and
Scott Fields
joining forces for a two-guitar duet, is not about in-your-face confrontation; instead, the guitarists favor a pensive, reflective approach to outside playing.
is far from a straight-ahead
bop
album; the performances are as abstract and cerebral as they are spacy and eerie. But they aren't harsh or militant by any means; nor are they dense. While extreme density can give
Gayle
-- or, for that matter,
's
-- a claustrophobic quality,
Parker
Fields
thrive on the use of space. Instead of trying to cram as many notes as possible into a solo, they choose their notes in a more careful, deliberate fashion. That isn't to say that the two guitarists don't improvise; improvisation and spontaneity are a major part of what they do on
. But it's a thoughtful spontaneity -- a thoughtful way of exploring the abstract and the intellectual. Admirers of the
AACM
school of outside expression will find a lot to like about the dialogue that
enjoy on
. ~ Alex Henderson