Sometimes jazz can be the medium for a different type of message. Here are two examples.
Bassist Alexis Cuadrado leads a pair of vocalists that recite poetry over a rotating team of Miles Okazaki/g, Andy Milne/p-key and Tyshawn Sorey/dr. Melcion Mateu and Rowan Ricardo Phillips take turns reciting poems in both English and Spanish with various messages over percussion or guitar. Three “Balada’s de Matt Sweeney” have Mateu’s husky voice in beatnik Spanish over piano and percussion, while Philllips brings a strange message over thunderous rock drumming on “Terra Incognita” and percolating undercurrents on ”Song of Fulton and Gold.” 21st Century Jack Kerouac?
Meanwhile, Sebastiano Dessanay uses his bass in a variety of duets, one including Howard Skempton’s voice on some poetry by Yeats, and the rest of the time in improvised and casual meetings. There are moments of peek a boo with pianist Sebastiano Meloni on ”Suite No. 1” while Augusto Pirodda’s ivories get pensive on ”Duet No. 3.” “Two Fools” has the leader overdubbing with himself, while the informality of teamings with Paul Dunmall’s tenor and Francesco Morittu’s guitar feel like cozy get-togethers.