Evan Parker / Daunik Lazro / Jean-Marc Foussat

Best known as one of the experts in recording, mixing and mastering European Free Music sessions – he does so with most of Joëlle Léandre’s discs – Jean-Marc Foussat performs as well. But the French polymath long ago put aside his guitar to concentrate on the textures can extract from an AKS synthesizer, cannily dovetailing into his other dial-twisting work. Designed to exhibit musician Foussat’s talents as a soloist and in a group context this two-CD set succeeds on both counts.

Recorded at London’s Cafe Oto, the over-31½ minute “Inventing Chimaeras” highlights the sonic hoops to which hardware and software can jump. About 12 minutes longer, the single track on “Présent Manifeste” is an object lesson in connecting electronic impulses with reactive improvisations from accomplished improvisers, British soprano saxophonist Evan Parker and French baritone and tenor saxophonist Daunik Lazro.

Working up from barely-there whispers, “Inventing Chimaeras” quickly adds twittering sizzles, tremolo basso drones and an ecclesiastical chorus of undulating voices to expose the performance parameters. A conveyer belt of mechanized nasal squeaks, positioned flanges and buzzes plus wooden clave-like tones intensify as timbral consolidation becomes louder. One crescendo reached contrasts vibe-likes plinks and programmed high-pitched trills with monk-like vocal chanting and a chorus of deep voices repeating “Jean Marc”. Revving up and downshifting from ferocious Bedlam-like cries to pastoral whistles to near silence, recoiling synthesized repetitions add an overlay of whistles before the finale consisting of melded undulating oscillations and mutated voice yodels.

With human voice-resembling timbres from Parker’s soprano saxophone and jet-plane-like drones from Lazro’s baritone, the reed players construct an alternative narrative to Foussat’s programmed exposition. Propelled by fused voices which banter back-and-forth sometimes the pitches are as sonorous as spetrofluctuation from Lazro’s horns or as clarion as triple-tonguing from Parker’s soprano. Entwined with ululating Gregorian chant from synthesized voices, by midpoint the reeds use harsh vibrations and crying split tones to disengage from the processed overlay. This extends to a mini climax as ferociously gritty tenor saxophone and more ethereal soprano saxophone licks sound in the altissimo range. Shaded tongue slaps and flutters are met with upwards drones from the synthesizer mixed with squeals from speedy choral-harmonized voices. By the final minutes ring modulator gongs and syni-created multiple voices connect with bottom-feeding snarls from Lazro and circular-breathed squeals from Parker to culminate in a mutual finale of dissolving tones.

It’s a question as to which skill, Foussat considers his day job. But Solo and Trio certainly confirm his ability to create individuality and to maintain his creativity when paired with musical heavy hitters.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: CD 1: 1. Inventing Chimaeras CD 2: 1. Présent Manifeste

Personnel: Evan Parker (soprano saxophone); Daunik Lazro (tenor and baritone saxophones);

Jean-Marc Foussat (AKS synthesizer and voice)