“Pillars” is the newest release of “Firehouse 12” label. Album was recorded by Stephen Haynes (trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, alto horn, small percussion), Ben Gerstein (trombone, melodica), Todd Neufeld (electric and acoustic guitar), Joe Morris (electric guitar, double bass), Carl Testa (double bass, electronics), Mark Helias (double bass), Zach Rowden (double bass) and Tyshawn Sorey (conductor, drum set, dungchen, percussion, trombone). Innovative Musical Decisions, turbulent and vibrant improvisations, synthesis of traditional and experimental playing techniques, exotic combos and sound experiments certainly are the base of improvisations of these jazz masters. All of them have bright, expressive, moving and tremendous playing style. Avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, modern (bebop, hard bop and etc.), progressive and contemporary jazz styles, intonations of academic avant-garde and experimental music create wide, colorful and rich stylistic variety. Famous jazz masters have much experience in improvisation and its sections – they know, how to find interesting, adventurous or just simply crazy way of improvising. They search for evocative, exclaming or scandalous and provocative methods, shocking playing techniques and suggestive special effects. The music is dynamic, filled with moody, crazy, risky and original musical decisions.

“Pillars” certainly can be titled one of the best album which was released this year. Hot passion, wild thrills, fusion of traditions and innovations, drive, expression and lots of emotions are the main compounds, who effect sparkling and innovative sound of this album. Expressive and suggestive playing manner, the superieur quality of playing technique, unique sound, special effects, dozens of rhythms, sounds and expressions gently joined together – that’s the base of these compositions. Avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, experimental jazz and soft intonations of bebop, post bop, hard bop and other modern jazz styles contain the imaginary, dynamic and illustrative stylistic variety and mood. Musicians have their own and original sound and playing manner. They are fusing innovative and shocking ways of playing, traditions, roots of 1960’s and 1970’s avant-garde jazz, methods of instrumentation of contemporary academical music, repetitive and minimalistic elements and other things. Eclectic, shocking and weird combos are very frequent – musicians are able to join together contrasting and completely individual compounds. Every element finds its own place – no matter, that it’s probably extremely weird, outrageous, scary or adventurous one. The will to make risky turns, adventurous decisions and shocking experiments makes an effort to formation of rich, expressive and vivd musical language. The synthesis of millions different compounds is just marvelous – it brings, life, energy, dozens of colors, tunes and timbres. Let’s analyse more whole basic of the compositions. It has multi-colorful, multi-layed and polyphonic pattern, which is formed from free structure, open form, dynamic rhythmic and sharp harmony. All the compounds had been chosen accidentally or in spontaneous and adventurous way. The rhythmic is dynamic and vital – sometimes it’s monotonic, stable and slow (like in the beginning), sometimes it’s formed from numerous of rhythmic figures, who are based on pulsation, energy’s explosions and roaring, driving and passionate solos or dramatic culminations. All the beauty of the compositions lays in melodic section, which is the most important element of whole album. It’s has rich variety of instruments, timbres, sounds, expressions and ways of improvising. Brasses section is electric, bright, luminous and passionate. Terrific, extremely loud and static bass lines, playful, wild, thrilling, hot and expressive solos, wild fast and just impressive passages, special effects and furious, free and roaring free improvisation bring life, energy and passion. That’s the place there meets joy and sorrox, aggression and passion, drive and expression – musicians modering between dozens of styles and manners to combine all these elements. Gentle, soft and claire solos, turned out to passionate, crazy, wild and impressive solos, solemn and serious excerpts, subtle and abstract episodes, meditative mood or hot, brave and noisy sparkles of joy – melodic section joins together millions of different moods and sounds. Bright, expressive, loud and energetic mood of large brass section is joined with dark, groovy and powerful section of guitars and double basses. The compositions have unusual instrumental combo – there are 4 double basses, 2 electric and 1 acoustic guitars. That makes a solid, deep, dark, intense and vibrant bass line, which is masterfully combined with electric hard core, some elements of rock styles, quadratic structure and strict harmonic and rhythmic line. Soft, natural and warm acoustic’s guitar’s tune is contrasting with shrieky and aggressive electric guitars and moody, deep and dynamic double basses. Dark, sorrowful, solemn, or just lyrical and gentle pieces gently get with deep and monotonic bass line, strong harmonic pattern, tremendous and impressive solos, remarkable melodies and turbulent free improvisations. The improvisers try to show the widest spectre of multi-colorful and dynamic double bass, electric and acoustic guitars and other instruments. Drums section is rich, impressive and enchanting, like all the rest part of the compounds. It’s active, created with drive, fantasy and imagination. Dozens of rhythms, repetitive series, minimalistic tunes, gorgeous timbres, moving passages, touching and rapid solos and the rest of wide range of elements are combined here. Rhythmic section is a mosaic of risky combos, strange timbres, driving and touching solos, turbulent improvisations, played with passion and expression. It effects whole whgole musical pattern and created enchanting, impressive and charming mood of the compositions. The music of this album is simply gorgeous, innovative and passionate – it’s created with love, expression and energy and combines together acoustics and electronics, strange timbres and special effects, adventurous solos, remarkable melodies and innovative musical decisions.