And why is that so?
Because the album was constructed much the same way Bill Frisell's Floratone was put together. That is, the basic tracks of improvised performances were recorded performed live in the studio. Then, these tapes were later dubbed, looped and remixed, resulting in a Frankenstein of organic and synthetic music. Only here the basic tracks are laid down by an entire quartet extemporaneously playing together, i.e., collective improvisation. And Torn, who is responsible for all the post-human twiddling, brings to bear his considerable experience as a film composer, producer and sideman. It's group playing shaped into one man's vision.
The group itself provides a key reason for why this formula works: Tim Berne (saxophone), Craig Taborn (keyboards) and Tom Rainey (drums). These guys are all not only reigning masters of improvised music, but have played together with and without Torn for a number of years. The chemistry needed to pull off those basic tracks was already established long before.
Even with all that going for it, following this template doesn't guarantee the record is going to be any good; risk-taking implies the real chance for failure, after all. Prezens works because Torn is pitching perfectly timed curveballs at every opportunity. The songs zigs where you expect it to zag. He creates ambient structures and then tears them down, sometimes in dramatic fashion, long before they get too rote. And Torn does all this while often remaining tuneful.
Take the opening track "AK." Its beginning statement is made a with a looped sample drenched in reverb before Torn introduces the song's key on a softly-played electric guitar. Meanwhile, Taborn provides some blues-heavy figures from a Hammond B-3 organ and Berne blurts out some smears from his sax as Rainey's stuttered drumming is taken in and out of the mix and some odd, electronic sounds are randomly thrown in. Slowly, a riff emerges out of Berne and a gradual build up ensues. The riff culminates in the drums' full participation and Torn's crunching axe playing the riff in unison. After a few rounds at full bore the band backs out except for Taborn's organ noodling and Torn's atmospherics before Berne plays subdued notes to take the tune out as gently as it began.
Article comments
1 - Tom Johnson
Awesome, Pico. I could not have possibly said it better myself. Definitely one of my favorites of the year.
I really hope this is the beginning of a more prolific solo career from Torn - he releases stuff way too rarely (but I'll take what I can get!) I've also read about some immense recording sessions for this album and I'm hoping that maybe something else will emerge from them, not to mention the live shows they embarked on to promote it.
2 - Mark Saleski
great review pico. and yeah, this is a fabulous album, no doubt.
3 - Pico
Thanks very much, TJ. I'm discovering new things about this album even now, after writing the review. It's almost like playing a CD for the first time each time I listen to it. Torn just seems to operate on a different plane from nearly everyone else out there.
4 - Michael J. West
I was just listening to this one today. A hell of a record, and a damn good review of it. I'm glad Torn keeps busy, but it is a drag that his recordings are so few and far between!
5 - Michael J. West
Incidentally, Prezens makes my Top 20 in the year-end Jazz Workshop -- but I think I may have to wait until after New Year's to publish that, just to make sure I don't miss out on something special. :-)
6 - Pico
Michael, I'm highly anticipating yours and Mark's (and Josh's) lists. I think I can guess one more on yours (Robin Eubanks...maybe the Jarrett).
Even though the flow of new releases almost completely shut down in December, I can't blame you for waiting; Miles' Complete Cellar Door Sessions came out between Christmas and New Years a few years ago and that one would have made my list for that year for certain.
7 - Michael J. West
Yeah, in fact there's some incredible stuff out today - including an archival Duke Ellington concert featuring Della Reese(!!!!) on vocals. I'm not sure how it'll be, but I gotta check it out!
8 - El Bicho
I will give it a listen.