Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jack Mouse & Scott Robinson: Snakeheads & Ladybugs

6

Jack Mouse & Scott Robinson: Snakeheads & Ladybugs

By

Sign in to view read count
Jack Mouse & Scott Robinson: Snakeheads & Ladybugs
Jack Mouse plays drums; Scott Robinson plays almost everything else. So even though the word "duets" is (properly) used to describe their two-part collaboration on Snakeheads & Ladybugs, the album's concept and resolution go far beyond that. For example, there are no written compositions here, simply perceptive and spontaneous improvisation between two inordinately accomplished musicians. Free jazz? That label would not be misused. There are, on the other hand, prescribed conventions and boundaries to which both participants adhere. Even in their most outlandish moments, Mouse and Robinson profess an unswerving allegiance to melody, harmony and rhythm that prevents "freedom" from morphing into rampant chaos.

Even so, these off-the-cuff stratagems won't suit everyone's taste. And that may be an understatement, as it doesn't necessarily follow that appreciation for what Mouse and Robinson are doing will translate into fondness. What they are doing is feeding, in some way, off each other's moves, like dance partners swapping the lead or marathon runners maneuvering for position. Each number opens with either Mouse or Robinson setting the mood and tempo, after which the motif unfolds freely as they listen closely and respond to every nuance, no matter how singular or subtle it may be. The upshot could be as sinuous and enigmatic as "Orcan," strident as "Funk Infestation," "Scorch" (or almost any other item on the menu) or as relatively explicit as the foursquare "Two Minute March," a brief vignette whose name is aptly descriptive, or the canonical finale, "FreeBop."

Robinson, an acknowledged master of many instruments, limits himself to four—tenor and C-melody saxophone, cornet and e-flat clarinet. Mouse, meanwhile, makes good use of every component in his drum kit to shadow each of them. As noted, their intuitive interplay, resourceful as it may be, is by no means aimed toward an inclusive audience but is designed instead to please those to whom the term "free jazz" is admirable and substantive. If you count yourself among them, Snakeheads & Ladybugs should prove altogether agreeable.

Track Listing

Flutter; Bolero Incognito; Backward Glance; Two Minute March; Orcan; Dual Duel; Funk Infestation; Snakeheads & Ladybugs; Shapeshifter; Scorch; Fandango; FreeBop.

Personnel

Scott Robinson: tenor, C-melody sax, cornet, e-flat clarinet; Jack Mouse: drums.

Album information

Title: Snakeheads & Ladybugs | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Tall Grass Records

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

Fiesta at Caroga
Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective
Fellowship
David Gibson
Immense Blue
Olie Brice / Rachel Musson / Mark Sanders

Popular

Get more of a good thing!

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