Myra Melford Fire and Water Quintet

Convening once again her Fire and Water Quintet (FaWQ) Bay area pianist Myra Melford has composed a five-part suite to expresses her musical interpretation of drawings by artist Cy Twombly and his geographical inspiration. More liberated than literal, the contributions from each player shape the organic result which doesn’t need the visual element to succeed. All-star, to use that overused frame, FaWQ members come from various parts of the US and each leads her own groups as well. They are soprano/tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, whose textures can alternately reflect glossiness and grit; drummer Lesley Mok, whose shifting tempos add space as well as rhythm to the suite; cellist Tomeka Reid, whose swirling stops or string swipes often evolve in unison with the string plucks and  cross flanges from guitarist Mary Halvorson and further color theme elaborations.

Preserving clarity in creation all the way to the sonic climax of “Insertion Five” enlivens the group interaction. That  multifaceted and sometimes modal exposition is completed by pianist’s minor key emphasis, whose repeated patterns and metrical sway harkens back to the beginning while emphasizing the swing lilt underlying specialized instrumental textures. With individual thrusts as often placid as penetrating, constantly refreshed narratives depend on careful group interaction. Thus intense reed split tones are matched with drum top splashes or pedal projected piano melodies are hooked onto single string guitar plinks as well as dark cello buzzes. Elsewhere Melford continues with her comping, seemingly unperturbed by the cacophony around her.

Divided into two parts, the lengthy “Insertion Three A + B” includes the toughest interaction that blends raspy reed bites and affiliated split tones, jagged cello slides, drum clangs and amp-buzzing guitar flanges atop energetic piano patterns. When the narrative shifts, intensity winds down with march tempo drum plops, timbral elaborations from the strings and dissolving reed smears. This purposeful shift confirms FaWQ’s ability to replicate the lightness, darkness and other tinctures of visual art.

Program music that’s not really programmatic, Melford and associates have come up with another exhilarating instance of creativity that rewards close listening.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Insertion  One 2. Insertion Two 3. Insertion Three A + B 4. Insertion Four 5. Insertion Five

Personnel: Ingrid Laubrock (tenor and soprano saxophones); Myra Melford (piano); Mary Halvorson (guitar); Tomeka Reid (cello) and Lesley Mok (drums)