April 29–May 6, 1999

disc quicks

PAcHORA & Chris Speed

PAcHORA
unn
(Knitting Factory Records)

Chris Speed
Deviantics
(Songlines Recordings)

The irregular meters, distinctive phrasing and spiky harmonies of Eastern European and Middle Eastern music provide ample fodder for creative improvisation, when put to good use. Reedman Chris Speed, percussionist Jim Black, bassist Skuli Sverrisson and guitarist Brad Shepik (who also plays tambura, saz, and banjar) have developed a means of bathing intricate folk melodies in contemporary hues. On unn, PAcHORA attacks their songs with festive exuberance, most notably on the uptempo "Dratch" and "Laz." Even the pensive compositions (e.g., "Idorno") contain a sort of latent momentum. Not surprisingly, there's some overlap between PAcHORA and Chris Speed's Deviantics ensemble, which features the same musicians (with trumpeter Cuong Vu replacing Shepik). Tunes like "Wheatstone" and "East Europe Rundown" feature some of the ethnic elements that characterize unn. But while PAcHORA's strongest suit is a command of traditional materials, Deviantics adopts a more liberal approach, drawing just as heavily from progressive jazz, experimental rock and numerous other styles. Vu often employs near- and far-Eastern scales, but usually as a fleeting phrase in a series of convincing ideas. The same poignant restlessness fuels Black's collage of breakbeats with traditional percussion. Speed plays more tenor saxophone than clarinet in this context, and when he does channel Coltrane (as on "Valya"), the effect is compelling. What these musicians have crafted is rapidly developing into an oeuvre. Both of these recent releases showcase their wide range of influences, near-telepathic interplay, and two distinctive but overlapping identities.

-Nate Chinen