Drops in Bloomington, MN

Derek Bailey
exuded an earthy charm: iconoclastic, brooding, and brilliant, he was also fiercely individualistic, and all of these qualities are in full force here. What is totally unexpected, however, is how well Italian percussionist
Andrea Centazzo
synchronizes with the guitarist.
Bailey
was sui generis, so off the beaten track that the only school in which he could be placed is not part of the umbrella of
jazz
, but falls within the genre of strictly
free improvisation
-- and even within that realm,
was wonderfully eccentric, his performances eschewing preconceived structures.
Centazzo
fulfills the seemingly impossible task of performing a duet with
by jumping into the fray, listening closely, and letting the guitarist generally lead. The results are remarkable, as each performer sounds like the alter ego of the other.
performs so percussively that sometimes it is difficult to tell who is who, in part because there is such an incredible diversity of sound. Nothing is static, as not only does volume fluctuate but there are no fixed tempos, and whether the guitarist and percussionist are bouncing ping-pong balls or simply "jamming," the only constant is the element of surprise. As to be expected, this is music of extremes, and a full-length recording of
is difficult listening for most people. The addition of
adds immeasurably to the curb appeal while he and
create a tapestry of chaos that coalesces into a weird miasma of exotic sounds without diluting the radical nature of the music. It remains exasperating, free, fascinating, and at times astonishing, making it a fine addition to
's discography and a strong demonstration of the skills of
. ~ Steven Loewy