Alexandros Aivaliotis & Nikolas Skordas: Facing Infinity, “On” Duet

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Let me be brief. This is easily the most dismal allegedly “jazz recording” I have ever heard. Shoddily produced – the sleeve (mis)information, partly in red, is partially obliterated by a black overlay of what appears to be a mountain – and some of the musical instruments are not identifiable.

A melancholy mood pervades throughout and makes for soporific listening. The only textual intelligence offered is that on … “In Japanese and Greek signifies ‘sound’ and ‘sentient being’ respectively. It is the raw approach to sound via soprano sax, tarogato and shakuhachi flute.” Tell it like it is.

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“Special guest” Sophia Koroxenou is presented ambiguously as a “Byzantine voice” and is certainly not a Lena Horne.

To these untrained ears, every seemingly interminable track sounds monotonously and drearily alike. But what do I know? Perhaps I’m missing something, could it be jazz?

Discography
Birds Interactions; Monologue of Duality; Beyond the Skies; Tsu-Re- Expansion; Facing Infinity; Cosmic Source II; The Joy of Loneliness; Ja(ZZ)Pan Bonding; “On”; Moon Sonority; Listen! Cliff Echoes; Farewell (76.28)
Skordas (ss, f, pc); Aivaliotis (jiari shakuhachi, jinashi hocchiku); Sophia Koroxenou (v). Thessaloniki, 6 February 2018.
Slam 594