Patrick De Groote / Cel Overberghe / Erik Vermeulen / Paul Van Gysegem / Marek Patrman

Multiple sound colors sparkle with the luster of painterly tinctures during the eight improvisations that make up this fine Belgian CD. That’s no surprise since bassist Paul Van Gysegem and saxophonist Cel Overberghe are noted visual artists. Both, whose lineage goes back to the early days of Flemish Free Jazz are also in their mid eighties. Although the others players are 25 or 35 years younger age doesn’t figure here. Instead cohesion and creativity are the watchwords.

At the same time pianist Erik Vermeulen is frequently the guiding force here. Besides subtle comping throughout in many tempos, his solos range from pressurized to patterning, compassing hovering modal swirls, hunt-and-peck then resolved elaborations, and evened-out cohesion. He slides from presto to processional behind Patrick De Groote’s strident trumpet lines on “Shouts”, encouraging the trumpeter’s later muted plunger emphasis; yet Vermeulen also emphasizes irregular patterning to counter bugling brass blasts and col legno string sweeps on “Woodpecker”. Van Gysegem’s non calcified technique is affirmed as early as “Haaks”, the first track, and is often expressed with sul tasto sweeps alongside reed mewls and cries and counterclockwise piano motions. His woody, stentorian slaps are frequently used as tune introductions. They’re displayed most notably on the slow moving “Melancholia (For Joske)”, where carefully positioned strokes are layered into the three-part narrative in counterpoint to breathy sax lines and finally joined by keyboard plinks. Percussionist Marek Patrman’s powerful clip-clops and cymbal clashes are interpolated throughout, but never demand undue prominence.

Hard-edged, it’s the final and title track which contains the quintet’s freest play with De Groote’s Donald Ayler-like smears, treble-trilling split tones from Overberghe, flat-toned strums from Van Gysegem and metal drum rattles and keyboard spelunking from Vermeulen. Multi-hued sonically, this track and the others tunes confirm that the despite part of the title, the only “square” associated with this set would be the shape of a canvas not the music.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Haaks 2. Brisk 3. Shouts 4. Wings 5. Woodpecker* 6. On the edge 7. Melancholia (For Joske) 8. Square Talks

Personnel: Patrick De Groote (trumpet and flugelhorn); Cel Overberghe (tenor and soprano saxophones); Erik Vermeulen (piano); Paul Van Gysegem (bass) and Marek Patrman (percussion and trumpet*)