Angelika Niescier/Alexander Hawkins

Having established herself playing with local musicians and Americans, Polish-born, Köln-based alto saxophonist Angelika Niescier is involved in this egalitarian duo with Oxford-based pianist Alexander Hawkins. An experienced duet partner with Evan Parker Louis Moholo-Moholo and others, he helps divide the 14 tracks among originals by both, improvisations and a cover of Muhal Richard Abrams’ “Arhythm Songy”.

One of the lengthier tracks, the Abrams’ cut doesn’t come across as sui generis. Essentially Niescier slithers through the theme with harsh kazoo-like split tones, while Hawkins’ jumping staccato comping helps harmonize the narrative. Throughout it’s the saxophonist who defaults to multiphonics and extended techniques, as the pianist maintains structure. At the same time his elaborations aren’t commonplace either. Fanning and swelling keyboard textures, his sound development can be as staccato and pointed as reed bites and flutters. Yet, as he shows on tracks such as “Scops” and “As Hemispheres at Home”, injections of unforced meditative key movements are also part of his strategies. His pedal notes and timed pauses keep the processes on an even keel, and let Niescier express a more savory side of her playing.

Moderate reed puffs and shakes and keyboard crinkles and tinkles may be part of the set; however the most excitement is engendered when both let loose. “Un: Tamed” and “Nexus” are instances of this. The first explodes with a tense saxophone yelp, as extended cries soon harmonize with metronomic piano lines which pop and flatten at the same time. Eventually both players create multiple note cascades and emphasis. Connections are more obvious on “Nexus”, the CD’s longest track. A trilling allegro reed introduction is quickly joined by sheets of piano tones with the broken chord improvising emphasizing tandem creativity as well as forward motion. Ultimately timbre stalking from both like neck-and-neck racers opens up into a climax where Niescier’s altissimo flutter tonguing aligns with Hawkins’ negotiating a brief reprise of the opening theme.

Yet more evidence that each player operate in top form no matter the size of the ensemble.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Brawls and Squabbles 2. Arhythm Songy 3. Why Didn’t You? 4. Un:Tamed 5. Shipwrecked Words 6. Scops 7. Weft 8. Nexus 9. Metamorphose Einer Karelle 10. Loom 11. As Hemispheres at Home 12. Limnetic Zone 13. Tar’Ai 14. Scope

Personnel: Angelika Niescier (alto saxophone) and Alexander Hawkins (piano)