Tracklist:

1. 29’09” [29:09]

2. 24’41” [24:41]

3. 17’22” [17:22]

 

Line-up:

Dan Warburton - piano, violin

Jean-Luc Guionnet - alto sax

Francois Fuchs - bass

Edward Perraud - drums

 

What the critics say:

Featuring Dan Warburton on violin & piano, Jean-Luc Guionnet on soprano & alto saxes, Francois Fuchs on bass and Edward Perraud on drums. Dan Warburton runs the Paris Transatlantic on-line web-zine as well as reviewing discs for the Wire. He is one of my favorite journalists and is more open and informed than most. Dan has worked with Arthur Doyle, Frederic Blondy and Frederick Goodwin. Jean-Luc Guionnet and Edward Perraud both play in the great French improv quintet, Hubbub. This is the third disc from Return of the New Thing, after CD's on Leo and Ayler. This disc was recorded at Alchemy in Poland in June of 2007 and has superb sound. This music has a magical quality, the sounds spin a sublime web around one another. While Dan plays dreamy, harp-like piano, the rest of the quartet swirl sublimely around him. Right away, we are transported into a most mesmerizing terrain. Although this sounds like free/jazz, there is a certain calm at the center of the storm. Jean-Luc starts to blast on his alto and sounds most powerful and uplifting. Dan sounds like a somewhat more reserved Keith Tippett and is nearly as amazing at times. Percussionist, Edward Perraud, who can be heard on that fantastic duo CD with Paul Rogers last year on FMR is also in splendid form. This band soon erupt and blast forth together tightly. Even when they slow down to a spacious section, they remain a tight-knit quartet. Dan's twisted violin improv works well with Edward's quick-spinning free percussion, Jean-Luc out-there sax and Francois' great bowed bass. Although this great quartet probably don't get together that often, they don't sound that way. They have an incredible, well-worn, tight-knit group sound, that remains interconnected no matter how far they go out. Once again we find another European unit that sounds as wonderful as any of their American brethren. Extra-ordinary, yes indeed! 

 

(BLG, Downtown Music Gallery)