snobb
In the modern jazz scene its the drummers who are changing the world, I'm serious! For last few years most current and probably most interesting trend on both sides of Atlantic is growing interest to jazz composition. And starting from influential beginners The Claudia Quintet (led by drummer John Hollenbeck) followed by ECM artist drummer Ches Smith and Canadian drummer Harris Eisenstadt, there are drummers who's bands are on a forefront of new movement.
Than it's not a strange at all that Roscoe Mitchell, Steve Coleman and John Zorn drummer Tyshawn Sorey on his fifth album as leader switches towards composition. Just as with some other Sorey works, he does it on his own radical manner. "The Inner Spectrum Of Variables" is six-movement suite, released as double CD-set and composed by Sorey,which recorded by two collectives - piano trio and strings trio. Besides of composition Sorey participates as conductor and only minimally - as drummer.
Even more unusual - music presented is based mostly on classic tradition (coming from early 20th century with feel-able romanticism influences and even baroque touches) and in big part has nothing in common with any form of jazz. Movement III is a first place (after half an hour of beautiful if not dark classical intro) where one can hear some avant-garde jazz drumming and dissonant motives in band's music, but very soon it fades to already expected classic piece.
There still will be few more explosive complex inserts till the end of the CD 1, but second disc opens with ambient drums and cymbals bringing listener more to chamber hall than on jazz scene again. Movements IV-VI, filling bigger half of second set's part, are quite dark but still tuneful chamber music hall compositions, all tasteful if having nothing too much in common with jazz.
Unorthodox album, which is difficult to evaluate strictly from jazz fan point of view, "The Inner Spectrum Of Variables" is more universal work removing accurate genres' frames. Sorey demonstrates here his great abilities as composer and besides of similar stylistic Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Threadgill most current works, this album is with no doubt one of the best releases for open ears listeners, coming from 2016.