Dikeman/Hong/Lumley/Warlis

As intense as it is international, Old Adam on Turtle Island’s two extended tracks showcase the collective skills of four Amsterdam-based players in creating modern layered improvised music. The disc is built around the seemingly inexhaustible ability of American tenor saxophonist John Dikeman to propel note bending screaming smears, split tones and altissimo shrieks with constant ferocity as rolling clips from Polish pianist Marta Warelis alternately decorate or drive the expositions. Korean drummer Sun-Mi Hong’s measured clunks or ruffs underline sequences with beats more felt than heard, while Canadian bassist Aaron Lumley divides his string sweeps between rhythmic continuity and interludes which add to the strident polyphony without upsetting linear motion.

The encounter reaches its apogee on “Groove – Choral – Manifest”, the second track, which is introduced by Lumley’s multi-string sul ponticello slides and stops. Superseding weighted drum ruffs and tolling keyboard clips, hefty pizzicato sweeps prod Dikeman and Warelis to filet enough discursive keyboard shakes and bellicose overblowing to reveal a moderated horizontal group finale.

With enough solid interludes to allow each musicians to depict progressive and reactive skills, the session is also elevated to a definition of creative music sophistication,

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. The Rev – Descent – Choral – Let’s Try 2. Groove – Choral – Manifest

Personnel: John Dikeman (tenor saxophone); Marta Warelis (piano); Aaron Lumley (bass) and Sun-Mi Hong (drums

–for The Whole Note June, July, August 2025