The first new Coleman album in 10 years, and his first live recording for 20, this set catches a German gig by last year's fascinating touring quartet. At 76, sax revolutionary Coleman retains much of his old capricious energy - his whooping runs, long high notes, quivering tone and casual, spiralling descents still sound fresh, and a pin-sharp recording emphasises it. Two double-bassists join Denardo Coleman on drums, a lineup that seems to merge the free-swinging jazzy Coleman period of the early 60s, and the more abstract subsequent trio that featured the late classically trained bassist, David Izenzon. Fast, slithering bowed passages cross the second bassist's rolling pizzicato freewalk, while snare-drum patterns and rimshots snap at the heels of vivacious sax figures.
A bluesy Coleman classic, Turnaround, and the Coleman/Pat Metheny vehicle Song X, are familiar; the rest are variously folksy, free-boppish, fitfully funky or hauntingly romantic new works.
