Big Satan – Livein Cognito

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Big Satan
Livein Cognito
Free Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Free Improvisation, Hard Bop, Post Bop, Jazz-Rock
Screwgun Records 2006

Some
bands are best experienced live. There's simply no denying the energy
and element of surprise that occurs when playing in front of an
audience. In recent years, advances in technology and a corresponding
reduction in costs have closed the gap between studio and concert
recordings to the point where an increasing number of artists now favor
live recordings—some, like pianist Keith Jarrett, exclusively so. Livein
Cognito isn't Big Satan's first live recording, but given that this
trio has convened at irregular intervals for a over decade, it's
undeniably its best.

Unlike Tim Berne's other groups—Science
Friction, Hard Cell and the wholly improvisational Paraphrase—Big Satan
is a more democratic collective which splits compositional duties
between the saxophonist and guitarist Marc Ducret. Ducret is a charter
member of Science Friction, as well as two earlier Berne groups,
Bloodcount and Caos Totale, so there's plenty of shared history that
gives both writers an equally shared vision in providing material for
Big Satan. Tom Rainey has been Berne's exclusive drummer of choice for
ten years, and while he may not contribute formal composition, he's an
equal partner when it comes to shaping the trio's sound.

It's a
surprisingly big sound for a group that has nothing anchoring the bottom
end. Bass-less groups are hardly unique these days, but Big Satan has
always differentiated itself through its complete avoidance of
apportioning out what might be considered a bassist's role amongst its
members. Rainey often anchors the trio rhythmically when the emphasis is
on form; but regardless of the composer, it's usually so idiosyncratic
that one may feel a pulse, but most will be challenged to actually
define it.

Even given the opportunity to watch the group, its
ability to navigate between spontaneity and tight structure is
remarkable. This is not music for the faint at heart, but it's far
removed from a style that some consider disconnected navel-gazing. If
the abstruseness of the writing and improvisation seems to mask a
greater purpose on first glance, repeated listens reveal a responsive
unit that, while no doubt capable of surprising itself at times, remains
unequivocally intentioned.

As much focused on texture as
phrasing, Berne, Ducret and Rainey are all capable of extending the
sonic capabilities of their instruments beyond the expected. And while
there's little here that could be called beautiful, the trio uses
dynamics to create music that's emotionally far-reaching, with its own
ebb and flow.

Dark and spacious in places, visceral, dense and
penetrating in others, the impact of Livein Cognito can be heard in the
audience's response. They may not always know how they're getting where
they're going, but Big Satan fans can always be assured an intriguing
trip. By
JOHN KELMAN

Drums – Tom Rainey
Guitar – Marc Ducret
Saxophone – Tim Berne

CD 1 Desperate
1-01 Deadpan 10:59
1-02 L'Ombra Di Verdi 11:48
1-03 Untitled 14:13
1-04 Ce Sont Les Noms Des Mots 17:05
1-05 Un Peu D'histoire 9:36

CD 2 Moredesperate
2-01 Mechanicals Failure 10:30
2-02 Mr. Subliminal 12:32
2-03 Untitled 16:19
2-04 The Mini-Bar Incident 11:00
2-05 Cause And Reflect 11:27
2-06 Bg Uh Oh 9:14

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