Dual Pleasure 2 ~ Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-Love
Paal Nilssen-Love
has gained widespread attention as drummer with Atomic, The Thing, Scorch
Trio and his series of duet albums of which this is the latest, while Ken
Vandermark plays in more ensembles than it seems possible to name in a single
breath. The saxophonist here traverses the spectrum between transcendent as
he tests his limits in squealing spirals and distressed as he expels shuddering,
lower register moans. Nilssen-Love’s playing is attentive, proactive
and incredibly precise as if each split-second decision were made with Occam’s
razor. Dual Pleasure 2 is a frequently bracing experience whose energy invites
surrender to the intuitive flow and brilliant, impassioned detail of the duo’s
performance. At other times, the music is a remarkably beautiful succession
of haunted sighs, whirrs and breaths. Turned up loud and with closed eyes
it’s difficult not to be engulfed in the waves of information imparted
by these two stellar players.
Colin Buttimer
December 2004
Published by Jazzwise magazine