In total free flight for the first two thirds of the concert he has lost nothing of his astonishing improvisational virtuosity. Considering just seven years ago he returned from the brink of total creative annihilation through illness to the heights represented here is more than testimony to the realisation that he is one of the most startling musicians in history, let alone jazz. The rippling cadenzas of his jazz/classical/free/folk mélange twist and morph as themes appear briefly only to be replaced, reshaped and recast moments later. The pacing is also judged to perfection, as tumultuous sequences are followed by soft melancholy ones, both hands dialoguing with dazzling harmonic grace and beauty. … This is an intense portrait of one of the most powerful musical forces of our time.
Mike Plynn, Jazzwise |