Soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy's first recording as a leader since moving to Europe (except for the obscure Roba from three months earlier) was originally cut for the Byg label before being reissued on an Affinity LP. Lacy was in Rome after being "stranded" in South America for quite some time. He had embraced many of the aspects of free jazz, and his interplay with the Italian musicians (trombonist Italo Toni, clarinetist Claudio Volonte, bassist Marcello Melis, and drummer Jacques Thollot), as well as cellist Irene Aebi (who would soon become a permanent member of his groups), is intriguing, often dense, and quite passionate. Lacy had not yet fully developed his more relaxed, scalar approach to improvising, but his playing is certainly quite distinctive and generally pretty lyrical during performances of his five originals. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. Hit
2. Note
3. Moon
4. Laugh
5. The Breath
STEVE LACY soprano saxophone
ITALO TONI trombone
CLAUDIO VOLONTE clarinet
IRENE AEBI cello
JAQUES THOLLOT drums
MARCELLO MELIS bass
All compositions by Steve Lacy
Recorded September 1969 Rome, Italy
BYG Actuel Records - 529.352 (1971)
Affinity - L6 AF152 (1980)
Sunspots Records SPOT 529 (2002)