John Surman: Haywain

In 1992, Surman and Abercombie teamed up with Peter Erskine and Marc Johnson for Abercrombies exceptional November platter and the album began with the free-from group improvisation The Cats Back. Seventeen years later the two Johns combine with DeJohnette and Gress taking Erskines and Johnsons place for the Surman-led Brewsters Rooster. And once again, the saxophonist and guitarist lead an ensemble through a composition thats conceived largely on the spot, Haywain.

This one begins and ends with DeJohnette, who is better than just about anyone else behind a drum kit at applying his available tools at the right moments in the right measures. He listens closely to the exchange Surman and Abercrombie are having and detects even the slightest mood changes and responds accordingly, including the point of peak intensity erupting just before the five minute mark. He does all this while simultaneously synchronizing his hi-hat to Gress rapid runs.

Thats not to diminish the contributions of the others; Surman, Abercrombie and Gress are playing telepathically, too. The drummer, however, pushes Haywain out to its substantial potential.