The best in the Duo Art series so far explosive alto saxophonist Alexey Kruglov (born 1979) is relatively little known in the west, although the Leo label has championed his cause to the free-jazz diaspora by releasing his records and Jazz on 3 has broadcast his trio on the BBC. Clearly in the Ganelin tradition he has a very powerful sound as if he’s playing a seriously hard reed and uses it to expressive effect whether caressing the notes or simply bludgeoning them in pursuit of their innermost core. His characterfully robust stylings, maybe it’s a Russian thing, in terms of inflection isn’t unlike the slightly more conventional Zhenya Strigalev approach and like the long time London-based Strigalev, is highly combustible at fast tempi.
Pianist Joachim Kühn, a free jazz legend who needs little introductory gloss and who is 70 shortly after Moscow is released next month, is simply magisterial and utterly convincing here whether on the anthemic and outstanding opener, the relatively melodic ‘Poet’ and his own ‘Because of Mouloud’, Kruglov’s free waltz, or even the little known hugely bluesy Ornette pieces ‘Researching Has No Limits’ and ‘Homogeneous Emotions’ a pair both included on French bassist Jean-Paul Celea’s 2012 album Yes Ornette! Recorded in Moscow in late-2012 this is yet another Kühn career high and a must for anyone interested in free jazz by a notable sorcerer of the music and his new found master apprentice.
Released on 10 March
Alexey Kruglov, above left, and Joachim Kühn
Photo ACT/Natalia Cheban