Album: Charles Evans, The King of All Instruments, (Hot Cup)

Reviewed by Phil Johnson

Sunday 22 February 2009

The instrument in question is the mighty baritone sax, which Philadelphia-born Charles Evans turns into a quartet, chamber group or bari-choir through judicious overdubbing on this intermittently amazing solo recording.

There’s less burbling lyricism in the manner of neglected masters such as Sahib Shihab or Lars Gullin, and more avant-garde explorations of pure sound, that can recall Anton Webern as well as Joe Zawinul. Not easy listening, though.



Pick of the album: ‘On Tone Yet, Part 1’: ‘In a Silent Way’-like tone poem

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