Papyrus, Vol. 2

Papyrus, Vol. 2

Editorial Reviews
From Jazziz
Trumpeter Bill Dixon and drummer Tony Oxley have worked together on record before on Dixon's Vade Mecum quartet CDs and in Oxley's Celebration Orchestra. Here they've pared away all the other instruments and concentrate on the distilled essence of their musical relationship.

Dixon's austere, carefully controlled improvisations simmer with barely contained emotion; his solos on "Cinnamon" and "Palimpsest" suggest dark depths and ecstatic highs with astonishing economy. Englishman Oxley, who is best known on these shores for his work with Cecil Taylor, matches each of Dixon's delicate puffs of air, heavy growls, finely etched lines, and lonely piercing tones with a dry tick of the snare rim, a tom-tom rumble, or shimmering bowed cymbal.

While Dixon broods on "Steps" and "Sine Qua Non #1," Oxley plays the scientist, carefully selecting the sound and rhythm to compliment Dixon. The glacial pace of the most of the music lets the two contemplate their every move, and each note sounds considered, as if selected for its maximum impact. Dixon and Oxley also leave lots of space around each phrase and every subtle change in tone color or texture. Consequently each gesture jumps out in high relief.

Four stark unaccompanied piano solos by Dixon serve as transitions between some of the tracks. The piano is overdubbed to flesh out several of the duos and add a more orchestral quality to them. Subdued and melancholic, these pieces also constantly surprise the listener with their sheer sonic inventiveness and beauty.

Papyrus, Vol. 2,Bill Dixon & Tony Oxley,Soul Note Records,Avant-Garde Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop

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