Virtuosic and inventive New York trumpeter Ralph Alessi has worked with everyone from Uri Caine to Michael Formanek as well his own bands. As the century progresses he\u2019s also become involved in international projects like the ones here. Melt all the Guns II is a new chapter in the saga of Brookly\/Berlin drummer Devin Gray\u2019s trio with the trumpet and new member, French pianist Myslaure Augustin. Mechanics of Nature on the other hand links Alessi with the Polish-Danish Beat Freaks quartet of guitarist Micha\u0142 Starkiewicz, bassist Flavio Gullotta, tenor saxophonist Tomasz Licak and drummer Radek Wo\u015bko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unlike Melt all the Guns, created with familiar associates, Mechanics of Nature is a first-time meeting between the trumpet and the quartet. However there\u2019s no grandstanding or feeling of star soloist with backing band. Starkiewicz, who composed nine of the 14 tracks here, and Licak work together often and comping textures from the bassist and drummer fit in as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ironically it\u2019s the track entitled \u201cBroken\u201d which best show this cooperation. Rubbed and slurred fingering from the guitarist and hard pummeling from the drummer frame the horns ascending and descending pitches. Brass triplets and note-bending reed squeaks develop into a contrapuntal challenge by the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With volume often pushing him to the background, Gullotta\u2019s supple string movements move upfront during the introduction to \u201cLifeline (Interlude)\u201d, where guitar strums and horn ascension are expressed in finished form on the subsequent \u201cLifeline\u201d. Melded with field recordings of voices and automobile movement, the narrative is hammered out with brass triplets and sax snarls, carefully balancing noise and music. Further interaction from irregular drum patterns and harsh trumpet tonguing serves a similar function on \u201cOne Of The Last Derkacz\u201d alongside the sounds of piercing sirens and loudspeaker announcements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While some tracks reach prestissimo affiliations with buzzing accents from the bass and drums, guitar string whistles and horn vamps, not every exposition is as vigorous. For instance \u201cElephant Song\u201d is a gentling ballad based around Starkiewicz\u2019s adagio strums, note-bending tones from Alessi, Licak\u2019s graceful harmonies and Gullotta\u2019s responsive string thumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In familiar territory or intersecting with new playing partners, Alessi\u2019s brass command shows why he\u2019s one of the busiest trumpeters on the New York scene. His associates on both discs are no slouches as improvisers either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2013Ken Waxman<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Personnel: Mechanics: Ralph Alessi (trumpet); Tomasz Licak (tenor saxophone); Micha\u0142 Starkiewicz (guitar); Flavio Gullotta (bass) and Radek Wo\u015bko (drums)
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Virtuosic and inventive New York trumpeter Ralph Alessi has worked with everyone from Uri Caine to Michael Formanek as well his own bands. As the century progresses he\u2019s also become … <\/p>\n