Ivo Perelman and Matthew Shipp

Magical Incantation

Soul City Sounds

Magical Incantation is astoundingly the nineteenth duo collaboration between Brazilian saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp. The duo began in 1996 with the saxophonist’s Bendito of Santa Cruz. Obviously at this point in their collaborative tenure, they can anticipate the other’s moves like the athlete who has spent countless hours studying film. But Perelman and Shipp don’t need scripts or any props. They interact with each other naturally and instinctively. They have not strayed from what now can be regarded as almost a mission statement articulated by Perelman in the liners for that debut album – “When we play there is no ‘dominant character’ at play. The music dictated where we will go; it takes over and we manage always to leave our non-musical egos out of the equation…Our ‘dominant character” is nothing but a by-product of our ability to distill the many possible musical choices available at every turn of the way during the musical discourse into a potent laser-like thought.”

Their dialogues go far beyond the often-trite call-and-response sequences heard on duo albums. Together they aim to craft one sound, moving in the same direction, though rarely in unison. It’s seamless energy and telepathic spontaneity at play. They open in reverential posture with “Prayer” as Perelman’s solemn tenor has Shipp in stately, delicate, respectful support. The tenorist gets increasingly expressive, reaching into higher registers as the piece evolves as Shipp remains steady with block chords and tender underpinnings, that contrast with the saxophonist’s more muscular delivery. “Ritual” is jagged and much further ‘out’, rife with repeating motifs as Perelman stretches the limits of his horn while Shipp dances underneath. “Lustihood” begins in a melancholy timbre at a slower pace, with the two carefully carving a new path together, like two on a search mission in the wilderness, expressing peaks of excitement along the journey but wary of what lies around the next bend. “Enlightenment” is dense, jagged, and alternately wild and meditative, brought to a most sublime conclusion.

In keeping with the spiritual theme, “Sacred Values’ is explorative and searching, with Perelman almost like a vocalist singing through his horn, while Shipp musters dense chords and his trademark use of the sustained pedal.  These are intimate improvisations, all of which are well grounded, striking that difficult balance between coherently rational and free. You may not know where they are going but they certainly do, proceeding purposely. There is a distinct pattern here however, as a brimming, unleashed, fiery piece often follows one that is melancholy and contemplative (“Incantation” vs. “Sacred Values” for example).

“Vibrational Essence” with a brief piano intro from Shipp ignites impassioned, potent blowing from his partner and like some of the others, contemplative moments mix with explosive ones. As peaks descend into valleys, one stokes a new fire, usually Shipp, further raising Perelman’s emotive potency.  Yet, when it seems as if the two are about to careen off the rails, they return to the kind of warm tones found in the last sequence of this one. The title track serves as a bookend of sorts to the opener, alternately fervent and tender. The music is both consistently imaginative and thoughtfulThey are so evocative together that one doesn’t even notice the lack of a full rhythm section. This is at the pinnacle of improvisation – exciting, challenging, and eminently accessible to those who appreciate such.

Magical Incantation is now available on Bandcamp. You may also want to seek out some others in their lengthy catalog, notably Callas, Amalgam, and the previous Fruition.

• Jim Hynes

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