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Looking East - Review at AAJ

By Kevin Lian-Anderso, 2-Disc Set, published at All About jazz

This two CD set, recorded live to two-track at a performance sponsored by the Boston Creative Music Alliance, presents the latest incarnation of Malik’s quartet laying down a stylishly complex floor plan upon which they show off some mighty impressive moves. This time around he has fire-breathing Test reedman Sabir Mateen occupying the late Glenn Spearman’s position. As expected, Mateen, on sax, clarinet, and flute, accompanies Malik’s scattered, urgent excursions perfectly. With the rugged, confident bass of Larry Roland and the propulsive, funk-inflected swing of drummer Cody Moffett, the former Cecil Taylor Unit trumpeter coaxes his stalwart comrades through some intricate compositions that have a markedly urban noir feel. Mateen subtly and slyly vamps on a "Laura"-like motif a quarter of the way through "The New Majesty" while "Fractals" exhibits a sinister back-alley, crime jazz ambiance a la Mancini. Much of the set bristles with creeping intrigue, the stress mounting as Malik and Mateen up the confrontational ante until the inevitable poignant thrust of improvisatory violence while Roland and Moffett’s steaming city backdrop grumbles and shouts. Malik’s tightly wound, yet free-ranging method of attack can soar and somersault ecstatically, ride above the stratosphere for a while, and then swoop back earthward with a bluesy, sensual grittiness without ever resorting to cliche or bombast. From the opening tension-filled drive of "Zero Grade" to the limber, Sun Ra influenced solar sway of the encore, "Cosmic G," the band burns brightly, pouring on the fuel as needed. A classy, high-energy outing from a formidable ensemble who will hopefully remain a working group for some time to come.

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