Those Who Didn't Run - EP

Album Review

More amazing solo saxophone from Colin Stetson. As on his New History Warfare albums, these tracks were recorded in one take with no overdubs, but you would hardly believe it. In fact, you might be hard-pressed to identify Those Who Didn't Run as a saxophone performance at all. Stetson's circular breathing and multiphonic abilities are incredible. He'll set up a "bassline", then introduce other voices and melodies on top while maintaining the original bassline, and can move the different parts in and out in an almost-dub fashion. Then there's the percussive effect of the keys also in the mix as he plays, adding additional rhythm to the piece. The repeating figures evoke the minimalism of Steve Reich or Philip Glass, but the sheer physicality of Stetson's playing bring the sound to another place entirely. Side one is played on bass saxophone while side two is on alto. The alto piece is more along the lines of Evan Parker's sax work, without the metallic edge and huge bottom end of the bass sax, but both pieces are astonishing. Stetson is developing a whole new language for saxophone. Brilliant.