The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis

A left field swivel for tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, his second session with the Washington D.C.-based Messthetics trio could be characterized as punk-jazz, but with  extemporization replacing excess. That doesn’t mean the Deface the Currency is any less combative or clamorous as a hardcore rock or jazz disc, it’s just that there are more musical peaks and valleys in the presentation..

The basic contrast resolved involves suturing the extended reed textures of Lewis, who leads his own tight-knit quarte in free jazz settings, with the shattering string punches from the electric bass of Joe Lally and the aggressive back beat of Brendan Canty, both of whom have a day job as members of the hardcore band Fugazi. Bridging the two solitudes is inventive guitarist Anthony Pirog, whose rock roots haven’t stopped him from working with the likes of improvisers William Hooker and Ches Smith.

Overall there may be a hint of where the quartet is aiming with this disc, since the final extended “Serpent Tongue (Slight Return)” has psychedelic echoes. This is especially clear when the guitarist break free of the prestissimo exposition that balances on shaking and shatter notes and tones to confront Lewis’ widening cornucopia of honking scoops and altissimo. Pirog’s burred string fingering that inflate into twangs and the use of  fuzz pedals screams and especially the title is reminiscent of Jim Hendrix’s  1968 blues “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)”.

Otherwise while there may be interludes that touch on gutsy ballad extensions or Pirog sneaking the occasional C&W lick into an otherwise heavier and harder exposition, foot taping funk far surpasses fragility or formalism. This is especially apparent on “Gestations” where sawing electric bass lines set up the theme, variations of which are soon passed back and forth between the guitarist’s shaking and elastic flanges and the saxophonist’s high-pitched split tones and reed slurs. As the four-part narrative intensifies it threatens to fragment into cacophony, but finally squirms into accommodation with thick low-pitched bass stops.

Above all it’s apparent that none of the players are trying or demanding any of the others attempt a watered-down version of their individual style. But it’s the tension and release obvious as opposite textures collide which make Deface the Currency so gripping.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Deface The Currency 2. Gestations 3. 30 Years Of Knowing 4. Rules Of The Game 5. Universal Security 6. Clutch 7. Serpent Tongue (Slight Return)

Personnel: James Brandon Lewis (tenor saxophone); Anthony Pirog (guitar); Joe Lally (bass) and Brendan Canty (drums)