Alex Cline's percussion armada of drums, cymbals, and little instruments has likely not been showcased as well as on Continuation, a set of free based, contemplative, and harmonically rich works made for his heroes, mentors, and recently deceased friends. Between what Cline is able to conjure from several different sonic aspects, his able bandmates give full account of themselves in their attempt to fully fashion his music in percussive and melodic means. The always exceptional individualist Myra Melford, though playing string-based or sounding instruments in the piano and harmonium, has a seemingly separate role, forcefully willing her way into advancing the compositions more rhythmically than Cline. Cellist Peggy Lee, violinist Jeff Gauthier, and bassist Scott Walton all have similar stances in bowing their instruments to soaring heights, but make a more melancholic music that speaks directly to the art of continuation, and how it manifests renewed life. What is most noticeable is the insular restlessness of the group in that they steer clear of clichés, straight time, or thematic motifs, moving on to the next-next phase with regularity. Exploring a full range of improvised sounds and specific ideas is more important than the tunefulness of each composition. This tone is set on the opener "Nourishing Our Roots" as Cline's unique technique on gongs aside Lee's free time cello establishes a lovely, low key meditative mood. Closer to terra firma, "Clearing Our Streams" swings and grooves after a deft solo by Walton and gliding harmonium plus violin lines, then the band goes into a harder edged jam. "Fade to Green" is an epilogue for Cline's deceased friend Dan Morris, a spare piece full of regret, moaning, and at times macabre remembrances with many clattering inserts by the percussionist. The best and most accessible track, "Steadfast," starts with a drum solo cued into Melford's cascading or forceful piano, then a 7/8 ostinato is established setting up tuneful melody refrains which supply the most jazz content within a modal context. Two eighteen-and-a-half minute tracks really stretch a listener's attention span, but are worth the time spent. "SubMerge" is dedicated to Japanese dancers Eiko & Kono, a very underground interpretive piece as Cline's arsenal of tiny sounds is fully utilized, while Melford's harmonium and bowed strings sing. "On the Bones of the Homegoing Thunder" is dedicated to Thomas Merton, featuring sour off-key notes busting out into Melford's driving hard bop, decomposed to nothing, then roaring with Cline's drum kit pounding and dancing figures. As to whether this is a logical end game or only the beginning of how Cline expands his vocabulary is sheer conjecture, but if it were deemed a magnum opus, it would result in a championship. Continuation is a fully realized artistic statement, highly recommended to those who are open to all aspects of future musical visions - Michael G. Nastos
It's been a long time since percussionist/composer Alex Cline last released an album under his own name. 1999's Sparks Fly Upward and 2001's The Constant Flame (both on Cryptogramophone), culminated his evolving Alex Cline Ensemble, combining measured spontaneity with long-form writing that, in its near-classical approach to compositional development, was a unique confluence of form and freedom. Continuation represents two significant changes for Cline: first, it's a far more overtly improvisational disc than his Ensemble records, even as Cline's predilection as a composer continues to evolve; second, with the exception of returning violinist Jeff Gauthier, it's an brand new line-up, featuring Canadian cellist Peggy Lee, bassist Scott Walton and pianist Myra Melford, whose The Image of Your Body (Cryptogramophone, 2006), in many ways reflects a deep spiritual nature also found in Cline's work.
The string-led nature of Continuation often works in tension-based odds with the percussion-driven work of Cline and Melford. The 18-minute "Submerge" begins with Cline's vast array of tuned and untuned percussion instruments, with Melford's gentle harmonium and the three strings entering almost tentatively, as space is used to best advantage to create a reflective ambience. The dynamic gradually builds, with harmonium and strings creating a densely layered melodicism that's juxtaposed with passages of Cline's spare percussion, leading to a finale of soothing tranquility that, like much of Cline's work, feels more oriental than occidental.
"Nourishing Our Roots" is a gentle opener, an ethereal tone poem that features Walton's visceral tone and Melford as distanced from her early, post-Cecil Taylorisms as possible before Gauthier—a sadly overlooked violinist—and rising star Lee come together in unison over the rubato foundation of their band-mates. "Clearing Out Our Streams," in contrast, swings in surprisingly Elvin Jones fashion after Walton's opening solo, turning into an Eastern-tinged modal workout for Melford's harmonium.
The abstract "Fade to Green" also uses space as a silent partner, Melford's repetitive, Morton Feldman-like piano pattern deceptively simple, creating a base for more abstruse improvisation from her band mates—most notably Cline, whose approach is more orchestral, avoiding the "look at me" trappings of typical drum solos. That said, while hardly conventional, the following "Steadfast" begins with a more traditional kit solo before settling into a compelling, bass riff-driven 7/4 groove that's interspersed with turbulent passages. Gauthier's delivers his finest playing of the set, with an equally superb Melford solo running the gamut from lean lyricism to hard-fisted block chords that return to her free jazz roots before leading into an aggressive, sharp-angled cello solo.
Cline's interest in Oriental spirituality remains intact on this recording but the disc is still—despite its often calming, meditative vibe—the hardest-hitting album of his career. If Continuation is any indication, this is a new group that Cline needs to hang onto. Quite possibly the group he's been searching for all his life to best interpret his multifaceted, multi-stylistic and multicultural interests, Continuation is a most welcome return to recording for this daring and unconventional percussionist. - John Kelman
Tracks
1. Nourishing Our Roots
2. Clearing Our Streams
3. Fade To Green
4. Steadfast
5. Submerge
6. On The Bones of the Homegoing Thunder
7. Open Hands - Receive, Release
JEFF GAUTHIER violin
PEGGY LEE cello
MYRA MELFORD piano, harmonium
SCOTT WALTON bass
ALEX CLINE percussion, kantele
All music composed by Alex Cline
Recorded April 12, 2008 at Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA
Cryptogramophone - CG140 (US)