If you are an Evan Parker fan and like the repetition, the playing with the squally, freer ends of the saxophone's outer limits you will find something like a flicker of recognition here from Norwegian saxophonist Bendik Giske although it is far more melodic and has a more finely concentrated vocabulary compared to what Parker produces. It's easy to listen to as you wiz through the almost zen-like routines that flow easily from one tributary to another and then satisfyingly into a bigger pool of sound as the strands of ideas coalesce say into the anthem like swagger of 'Not Yet' or hover like a butterfly on 'Rhizome' where Giske is a little in the Colin Stetson-like zone. The droney 'End' does not work quite so well but the bigger picture is this largely works as a concept. Produced by electronica producer Beatrice Dillon there's a Dillon remix of album track 'Rise and Fall' that fills out the sound in a different way and sits well with the rest of the tracks. There's a well developed individuality that lifts this above a lot of similar efforts, sends you to clubland and back. Is it jazz - does that matter? Reader decide. Bendik Giske, above, photo: press, plays the ICA London on 6 October
Tags: Reviews