Recorded in concert back in June, 2018 at The Baroque in Transylvania, tenor saxist Abraham Burton and pianist Lucian Ban deliver free from conversations, both in tribute to Pharoah Sanders, but in inspiration throughout.
Burton’s tenor is able to range from a breathy sigh to agonizing screams on the dark blue “Opening/Freeflow” while sounding like he’s playing on a street corner on the casual “Interlude” and “Backsalt”. The Ellingtonian “Untold” has Ban’s fingers focusing on the black keys, while he gives off cues and directions on “Belize”. Belting out shouts and cries fill up “Not That Kind of Blues” while elliptical tones abound on the pretty “Dad”. Similarities to Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp’s duets can be done, with this team a bit more extroverted. Free form sonatas.