Nick Cain
starts his liner notes to
Bridge Out!
with the words: "Don't call it a comeback." Well, I'm sorry, but that's just what it is -- and twice over. Not only is this a comeback for the
Flaherty
/
Colbourne
duo, after a ten-year hiatus, but this album also marks
Randy Colbourne
's return to the drum kit, after exploring the clarinet for a decade. In the meantime,
has experienced a significant increase in profile, mostly thanks to another sax/drums alliance, this one with
Chris Corsano
.
was recorded in
's home studio in a one-day session. It is a generous and intense 70+minute platter.
is in fine shape, exploring the full range of his expressive palette, from lovable instant melodies to angst-driven grunts. The surprise here is
, in better shape than ever, rolling over the drum kit at light speed -- his stint as a clarinetist has added a
jazz
-like melodicism to his playing reminiscent of
Rashied Ali
. The album has been assembled as two separate sets (and you might actually want to take a 20-minute break at mid-point). The first set's highlight is
"Scorched Onslaught,"
actually not as all-out as its title may imply, and the short episode of cymbal bowing entitled
"Ice Spike."
The 17-minute
"Marauding Toxic Fungus"
features some very strong moments, but also some surprisingly weak interplay in some places. The second half kicks off wonderfully with the 14-minute
"Gilded Plague."
Also worth mentioning is
"More Lasting than Bronze,"
which starts with a very mellow sax intro, then simmers beautifully under
's breath. With the reissue of his first-ever session (
Orange
's
In the Midst of Chaos
) and the rekindling of this duo, 2008 was a slightly nostalgic year in
's discography. Yet, there is nothing nostalgic about the music on
; it is all about fire music in the here and now. ~ Francois Couture