A visceral, reflexive set from drummer Steve Noble and trumpeter Gabriel Bristow, recorded at OTO in April 2022.

Stepping in for Tashi Dorji, who'd had to cancel his tour, Bristow more than matches the Bhutanese guitarist's intensity, summoning a freewheeling melodicism that combines undeniable technical skill with full-throated breath work and exuberant runs that soar over the rousing fervency of Noble's drumming.

For those still in need of proof of Noble's status as one of the all-time-great British drummers (and really, if so, where have you been?), look no further. Noble's distinctive style is in full effect here, an instinctual percussive tour-de-force that covers an incredible amount of ground whilst never seeming to be anything less than utterly suited to the moment.

At times the back and forth between the two musicians builds to such a clamorous pitch that it seems that the whole thing must tumble over, but both artists seem able and willing to push on to greater heights. At others, there's a ruminative thoughtful quality to the interplay that evokes the charged semi-silences of the films of the Quay brothers.

There's an overarching drive and vitality to the duo's reciprocity, and at times there's enough swing going on here to conjure Jaan Pehchan Ho. But the pair also give each other enough space to breathe, with the set's 40 minute running time punctuated by miniature solo sections that seem to act like deliberate inhales before the next giddy ascension.

Through it all, snippets of Albert Ayler's phantom phrases coil and wreathe in new variations that tip the hat without getting bogged down in too much reverence. This is no amber-coated act of jazz preservation, but a living, breathing performance imbued with the spirit.

--

Recorded by Chris Penty
Mixed by Otto Willberg
Mastered by Oli Barrett