Gregg Belisle-Chi

Transforming alto saxophonist Tim Berne’s sometimes spiky compositions into controlled chamber-style music may seem like an impossible task – or at least a brave one. But Brooklyn-based Gregg Belisle-Chi has done so on this brief– less than 37 minute –  session in transcribing Berne’s lines for solo acoustic guitar.

While the idea may appear foolhardy, if not completely foolish, Belisle-Chi would seem to be the perfect interpreter. Not only does he now frequently play with Berne as a duo or in a trio with drummer Tom Rainey, but this is his second album of Berne interpretations, having performed the same musical alchemy on KOI in 2021.

Since Berne has usually worked with rugged electric guitarists like Marc Ducret in the past, Belisle-Chi’s acoustic recasting of eight Berne compositions offers unique variations. With the tracks encompassing lively or languid performances, expressive string slides and stops, measured strokes and a few embellishments are worked into the interpretations. Still even when a track like “No White Out” evolves with a few ringing chords, swift, strained slides up and down the strings and a tempo that moves from andante to allegro and back again, a certain sameness can be felt throughout. Other tunes, which are in the main played at mid-range tempos often with similar patterns, skirt ennui more often than produce excitement.

With its give-away title, Slow Crawl doesn’t promise any more than it delivers. Belisle-Chi can certainly be commended for offering an idiosyncratic translation of  Berne’s music for solo guitar. Six-string fanciers will be particularly drawn to the session, Yet those who have long followed the alto saxophonist may be alternately intrigued or repelled by the disc.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Dirt Bag 2.  Sorry 3.  Cluster 4.  Yikes 5.  Carl(s) Jr. 6. Concepción 7. No White Out 8. Variations

Personnel: Gregg Belisle-Chi (guitar