Michael Marcus has long been recognized for his choice in oddball horns-stritch, saxello, soparino, bass clarinet. The real story, of course, isn't the horn, it's the sound of the horn. On Live in NY, Marcus trims his arsenal to just the stritch and the bass clarinet for a purposeful, stripped-down session that ripples with muscular vigor. Accompanied by bassist Chris Sullivan and drummer Cody Moffett, who leave plenty of room for Marcus to poke and prod the far corners of a tune's boundaries, Marcus's playing here is nothing short of electric. And while the leader's energy level is unflagging, he does not sacrifice control or coherence. Covers of Monk ("'Round Midnight") and Dolphy ("Serene") should give the uninitiated an idea of where Marcus hangs his hat, while those familiar with this increasingly important horn thinker will have their hats completely blown off. Highly recommended. |