John Butcher/Dominic Lash/Emil Karlsen

Although a first meeting as a trio, tonal amalgamation is still present from the get-go from these UK-based improvisers. In part that’s expected since bassist Dominic Lash, who also works with the likes of Alexander Hawkins; drummer Emil Karlsen, who plays with Philipp Wachsmann among others; and saxophonist John Butcher, who has played alongside almost everyone on the international improvised scene, have been part of that genre’s ever-shifting gestalt for decades. However the key to Here and How is the manner in which the three find new combinations to expose and new structures to explore.

Equally involved, although Karlsen’s drum cranks an cymbal claps are more intermittent than Butcher’s extended overblowing and timbral arabesque and Lash’s solid string swells or positioned stops, broken octave reed-string evolution is still further shaped by percussion accents. For instance would the ingenuity of the saxophone vibrations that seemingly split into two separate timbres on “Baddeleyite” be as pronounced if not surrounded by equally inventive col legno string raps and tandem rim clips and drum rolls? With the double bass line moving as quickly as strained reed overblowing, saxophone techniques become part of the sound evolution not stand-alone showiness. Crucially, as tempos throughout vary from slow walks to aggravated drags, or intonation is expressed in Reveille-like bites, wallowing low tones or near silences, three-part interactive threads are stretched, but never ruptured.

The climatic and extended instance of this strategy is on the penultimate “Peridot”. Beginning with Butcher projecting unaccented air almost soundlessly before revealing reed suction and tongue stops, the exposition attains its proper form as deepened string thumps and percussion rumbles are added. Ascending to galloping drum clip clops and knife-sharp string stabs, subsequent sul ponticello swipes help position the theme into a distinct staccato form.

Other motifs, such as slide-whistle-like peeps, shrill cymbal scratches and swift bass walking are introduced on the nine tracks, but each contradiction is resolved singly, in duo or trio expressions. That’s why the session lives up to its title. Interactive improvising is done here and the three show how distinctively it can be done.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Gabbro 2. Jasper 3. Baddeleyite 4. Avalon 5. Chrysocolia 6. Spinel 7. Faden 8. Peridot 9. Idocrase

Personnel: John Butcher (soprano and tenor saxophones); Dominic Lash (bass) and Emil Karlsen (drums)