A straight-ahead blowing session from these three veterans, recorded before an audience at the Sunset club in Paris. The trio should be familiar to anyone who's kept tabs with creative music over the past decade-plus: Bang was very active in the New York Loft scene of the early '70's, playing as sideman/collaborator as well as leading his own ensembles like the String Trio of New York. Altschul played percussion with the seminal band Circle in the '70's whose other members were Chick Corea, Dave Holland and Anthony Braxton, took part in Holland's much-touted album 'Conference Of The Birds', and contributed to recordings by Sam Rivers, Paul Bley, Andrew HIll and others. Fonda has had a long association with Anthony Braxton and played with Archie Shepp, Bill Dixon, Marion Brown, and many others.
After the opening applause, the (improvised) opener goes from a few "let's get started" drips and drabs to an eventual sawing, wailing flight. Bang takes the lead here and is supported with sensitivity and strength in equal measure, as he explores variations on his initial idea. It's an excellent example of seasoned players listening hard. The next selection, also an improv, bangs hard at the beginning and then slides into a slower theme and exploration, sounding slightly eastern (and not unlike David Cross!).
Of the 6 tracks here, 4 are credited compositions, Altschul's "Da Bang" being the longest. It starts with a drum solo, a display of timbral variation as well as rhythmic free-for-all. At around the 5-minute mark, Fonda starts a four-note walk and Bang lays on the melody. From there it's a fairly standard, theme/variations/solos vehicle, with a really wonderful drum and bass exchange near the end, with Fonda playing a nice droning quick-figure before the head comes around again. "Just A Simple Song" by Altschul and Fonda's "China" are both slower affairs with distinctive melodies, "Song" being more ballad-like and "China" having a stop/start head as a jumping off point.
The final offering, the only one credited solely to Bang, has a playful melody over a slowly repeating figure from the bass and precision swinging from the drums. I think here they come closest to sounding like a "jazz band", while also conjuring memories of every violin record I've ever heard.
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