A pair
of burning 21st Century recordings by Per Henrik
Wallin – easily one
of the greatest free jazz pianists working the European scene for the past few decades – as you'll certainly hear on this set! CD 1 features duets between
Wallin and drummer Sven Akie Johansson – recorded in an intimate setting in
Wallin's apartment, but played with a full sense
of explosive energy that would easily rival the best live work by either player. The performance runs for nearly an hour, and features 10 segments, all numbered versions
of "Proklamation". CD 2 is a live date from Amsterdam – one that features a trio with Peter Janson on bass and Leif Wennerstrom on drums – working with
Wallin in a mode that's certainly a bit more inside than the first one, but no less creative overall. Echoes
of piano modernism from the 50s onward characterize many
of the numbers – and
Wallin brings together a legacy
of key players into dialectic with his own approach – shifting back and forth beautifully, and showing a command
of the keyboard that's simply breathtaking. Titles include "Farewell To Sweden", "Winter Rap", "Work", "PH's Delight", "Time Waits", "
Voodoo", and "The Question
Of Evoking".
(Sleeve has some wear.)