Perceptions Trio

The Wicked Crew

Pulse Foundation/Sense

The Perceptions Trio, based in Basel, Switzerland are making their debut with “The Wicked Crew.” The trio’s three members each contribute compositions to this ten track release. They are saxophonist Charley Rose (France), guitarist Silvan Joray (Switzerland) and drummer Paulo Almeida (Brazil).  Both Rose and Joray also add plenty of effects, making this band, without a bassist, comparable, though overall lighter in sound than the reformed The Bad Plus. The Perceptions Trio mostly stress the lyrical and contemplative though the colors vary depending on the composer. Rose aims toward melodies and a mix of pop and jazz fusion. Joray is the most meditative and pensive of the three while Almeida is also on the contemplative side, steeped in rubato or elasticity of rhythm. In essence, this is a relaxing, textured album that doesn’t stray far from the atmospheric, ethereal, sonic worlds of ECM.

Rose’s opener “Radio Goosebumps” is clearly one of the few high energy pieces, with the composer and guitarist soloing, embracing jazz fusion without a heavy, head banging beat. It flows nicely. The absence of a bassist, as mentioned, keeps it on the lighter side with stunning interplay between Rose and Joray. The tone changes dramatically with “Ubarto,” the first of Joray’s three pieces. The trio embellishes a relatively simple melody in unhurried fashion and again the harmonics and use of effects are intriguing as the tune doesn’t so much as go anywhere but delightfully just swirls around. Joray’s “Perceptions’’ journeys even deeper into meditative territory with elongated notes from the guitarist and an hypnotic, trance-like saxophone solo, the piece seemingly like a low hanging cloud that won’t yield a drop of rain. This, as much as any track, speaks to the virtuosity of these players. It’s challenging to play in such a restrained way.

The stark, otherworldly “Andromeda”(it is named after a constellation after all) is one of two group improvised pieces, the other being the closing “Nebulosa,” both exhibiting an ambient, spaciousness commensurate with their titles. Like so many of the composed pieces, these are also dreamlike.

Through these first four pieces, we can readily identify the title track as a Rose composition, with more emphasis on drums, and the synth-like approach of both the guitar and saxophone, creating a dizzying soundscape until Rose locks into a reaching, soaring solo that brings the piece to a more definitive climax than most of the others which exit quietly. Rose’s third composition is the daringly titled “Flash Lights and Sewers Explorations,” a daunting, haunting journey to the underground where danger lurks at practically every chord change. It would make a great soundtrack for those strobe lit Halloween tours through haunted houses, tunnels, and asylums.

Drummer Almeida’s two compositions are “Lit Candles” and “Sombra.” The former begins with a straight out sax intro, evolving into darker tones punctuated with gongs and cymbals as the effects deliver the by now signature backdrop. The piece builds to a crescendo before gradually fading. “Sombra” is far more vibrant with a flexible pulse, angular, disjointed melody, and extensive skittering soloing by the composer as well as Joray’s exploratory guitar, employing slide as the piece descends into languorous sonics.  Joray’s “Peaceful Departure” is a heartfelt nod to his grandfather, almost prayer-like in its reverent approach.

The Perceptions Trio is a master of the delicate and restrained while exhibiting a high degree of imagination that can induce all kinds of visual imagery and transportive states of mind on some of their wildest excursions. Saying it is an auspicious debut is an understatement.

– Jim Hynes.

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