Paradoxical Frog

iTunes Review

On Paradoxical Frog, the outstanding trio of pianist Kris Davis, tenor saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, and drummer Tyshawn Sorey present a bracing set of eight original pieces. All three musicians contribute work, resulting in a nice mix of compositional approaches. Davis’ “Iron Spider” is an intense piece with spiky piano, sax screams, and thrashing drums. You can hear the inspiration of Morton Feldman on Sorey’s “Homograph,” a spare, gripping track that features an exchange of single tones between piano and sax and deftly incorporates silence. (Interestingly, Sorey sits this one out.) His “Slow Burn” moves through a number of compelling sections, while “On The Six” is graced by striking cymbal work. The Laubrock-penned title cut is marked by jagged lines and complex harmonies, with the band heating up to fever pitch at one point. Paradoxical Frog closes with Davis’s “Feldman” which, as the title indicates, is influenced by the composer of the same name. Intriguingly, eruptions of fiery free jazz ruffle the track’s quiescence.