fantastic freeform improvisational fun Adam Nolan – ARE U FREE: Only our most devoted readers know that I was “on the scene with improvisation” from the late 1980’s through the early 2000’s – producing over 60 albums that were “totally out and experimental.” That’s the reason why you’ll find many reviews of music that doesn’t “fit” in the mainstream in our pages. Saxophonist Adam Nolan has been reviewed many times in CFR, and so has guitartist Brian Kastan… I had suggested in one of my reviews that the two really needed to get together; they did, and you’ll hear the fantastic freeform improvisational fun they created on this album. Here they are, chatting just a few days before the recording session that resulted in this release…
If you truly enjoy music that challenges the norms and takes you to the “outer edges“, you must be sure to subscribe to both Brian’s YouTube channel and Adam’s channel as well.
Adam’s stellar and unstoppable sax energy is joined by Brian’s amazing guitar and bass, as well as dynamic drums from James Paul Nadien in the most creative cacophony you will ever listen to on tunes like the 9:50 “This Way“… it starts off in a relatively “slow” mood, giving each player room to demonstrate their total mastery of their instrument and evolving into one of the craziest “crash and burn” endings you’ll ever hear – FANTASTIC!
It was (without qualification) the 11:48 closer, “Fate“, that (easily) won my vote for personal favorite of the eleven eclectic improvisations offered up… for those among you who understand the sheer beauty of abandoned playing, you’ll find this is among your favorites as well.
I give this overheated trio a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) score of 4.99. Get more information on the Bandcamp page for the album (below).