Aercine

Self-Titled CD

Drimala Records

Genres: free jazz, experimental

Drimala Records
PO Box 69044
Hampton, VA
23669-9344

Apr 7 - 13 2003

Aercine is Harvey Sorgen on bass, Steve Rust on bass, Michael Jefry Stevens on piano, Mark Feldman on violin, and Herb Robertson on trumpet.  Together they have created some of the most interesting jazz compositions to come out in recent times.  Free jazz is the name of the game here; this is definitely aimed exclusively at experimental listeners and not the jazz mainstream.

The musicians involved in Aercine are clearly very talented; their solos are masterfully complex and their rhythms are wonderfully free.  The loose nature of the compositions will be a plus for free jazz audiences - live performances must be amazing.  The only downside to the pieces is that some of the arrangements end up being too sparse and don't hold the listener's interest.

The best tracks include "The Shokoe Slip" and "Kaaterskill Falls."  The former is an experimental piece filled with bubbly piano, gurgling trumpet solos, pattering drums, and some really effective violin improvisation.  The latter is a wonderful track held together by Mark Feldman's fantastic violin-playing - the piece gradually gains tension as it progresses.

Overall, this is a very spirited performance by a bunch of very talented free jazz performers.  What more could you want?

82%

Matt Shimmer

[Vitals: 10 songs, distributed by the label, released 2002]