Since Time is Gravity

The American composer and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Abrams has long described his experimental Natural Information Society ensemble as an exercise in ‘ecstatic minimalism’ and Since Time is Gravity fits the description perfectly. The underlying modal rhythms provided by Abrams’ gimbri and Lisa Alvarado's harmonium throb with a hypnotic insistence reminiscent of Terry Riley or Philip Glass. Over this rhythmic soundbed, the saxes of Nick Mazzarella, Mai Sugimoto and Ari Brown plus Jason Stein on bass clarinet and the cornets of Josh Berman and Ben Lamar Gay blow layers of gloriously wild avant improv. The effect is hypnotic and trance-like, a gnawa ceremony of healing in which technical jazz virtuosity is undoubtedly present but is democratically subsumed into the overall transcendence. Try ‘Murmuration’, which starts with a raw gimbri solo, the rhythm of which is picked up by a tar frame drum before the horns start laying strange, interlocking patterns over the top, or the droning weirdness of ‘Stigmergy’ on which the wind players take turns to weave mystically elastic solos. If you admired Africa Express’ presentation of Terry Riley's In C (a Top of the World album in April/May 2015, #107), then you will love Since Time is Gravity.