Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Mick Rossi/Russ Johnson: New Math

159

Mick Rossi/Russ Johnson: New Math

By

Sign in to view read count
Mick Rossi/Russ Johnson: New Math
On New Math trumpeter Russ Johnson and pianist/flutist/percussionist Mick Rossi expand the limits of improvisation and invention. Their duets are musical poetry slams, a blueprint for performance jazz, with three-digit numbers identifying the songs on this envelope-shredding disc. “2.70” begins with a wailing trumpet salvo from Johnson that sounds like a Dixieland ululation, with Rossi’s piano trilling behind him. An elephantine burst is the opening sound of “3.30.” Johnson provides the dramatic, fragmented backdrop as Rossi articulates the landscape. On “1.22” Rossi goes outside the box by literally going inside the box to turn the piano into a multidimensional percussive instrument.

“1.50” is the most straight of the compositions, if you will, with various shifts in tone and rhythm. “2.20” is a clay flute bird flight by Rossi, and the sputtering trumpet and foreboding piano of “1.13” marks the sound of something—a building? a relationship?—breaking apart, crumbling, spiraling to its end. Perhaps to enhance the “new math” theme, the duo include two songs on the disc unlisted on the CD sleeve, the first a blend of yeoman percussion and trumpet; the last cut an almost classical, recital-like duet.

In Johnson’s hands, the trumpet is an organic entity. His tone is edgy, sometimes rough, embodying the raw emotion that defines the disc. Rossi gives all of his instruments depth and color. New Math is challenging but stunning terrain, spare but beautiful, affecting to the emotions.

Track Listing

2.70; 3.30; 2.90; 1.91; 1.10; 1.22; 1.50; 2.20; 1.13; 2.14; 4.30.

Personnel

Russ Johnson, trumpet Mick Rossi, piano, prepared piano, percussion, clay flutes

Album information

Title: New Math | Year Released: 2004 | Record Label: Unknown label

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Sensual
Rachel Z
Over and Over
Tony Monaco Trio
Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.