Tony Oxley Quintet-Angular Apron; Corbett vs. Dempsey Records, 2024

 

More good news for appreciators of the late Tony Oxley's drumming comes in the form of Angular Apron, a documented live set from 1992 in Germany. The quintet that made this long form composition was pieced together from multiple regions and generations, and this rather polyglot method serves the Improvised Music milieu within which all its players worked quite well. Bass player Sirone was involved within the Free Jazz scene of NYC at one of its busiest periods. Oxley's roots went back to roughly the same era but within somewhat different philosophical perspectives. Pat Thomas was working quite often with Oxley at that time on piano and electronics. Before hearing Apron, Disaster Amnesaic had never heard the sounds of woodwinds player Larry Stabbins or the trumpet and flugelhorn of Manfred Schoof. As regards these last two, it just goes to show that the Jazz and Improvised Music scenes are bottomless wells for enthusiastic listeners; one will always be able to hear "new to them" players from them. 

As for the playing on Apron, it's exquisite, as to be expected from Corbett vs. Dempsey product. The group thrashes out five piece unit structures at times, while at other times breaking off into more discrete duo, trio, and quartet zones. All of the players show remarkably honed instincts as to when to stay silent or when to dive in to the instrumental fray. Sirone's bass solo may be the brightest spot of the entire thing. One would be hard pressed to find a better bassist of the upright variety. The man had skills that many others hadn't even, or wouldn't even, consider. One of the bright lights of the post-Ayler contiuum, no doubt about it. Of course, Tony's playing is a delight to listen to. His fascinating drum kit, with such different timbre from the standard Jazz one, is always a treat. On this disc the listener is treated to the man during a period in which he was one of the most singular leaders within the forms. Given that he'd worked with Oxley a lot already by this point, Thomas sounds particularly locked in with his partner. His electronic washes add nice, surreal boosts at various points. Stabbins scrawls and squeals, Schoof's brass is juicy in an almost Trad way at times, along with going inward and outward of course. 

Despite Angular Apron consisting of only one track (64 min.), the ways that the Tony Oxley Quintet interacted on that date in Bochum will assure that the committed listener of free improvisation will not be bored as they interact with its nuances. Sporting a couple examples of Tony's abstracted visual art and really great post-production, this one should be a prized score for anyone that's a fan of or even curious about Improvised Music in general.