Long free-jazz improvisations from a septet, plus a short lecture on Portugese colonialism!

Arranged on the spot by pianist Thollem McDonas, the pieces have a free jazz/free improv sound. Saxophones give it a jazzy ring, while the piano often feels like modern-classical music.

Brad Duncan -- Lecture (spoken word)
Hasan Abdur-Razzaq -- reeds
Michael Carey -- reeds
Marko Novachcoff -- reeds
Joel Peterson -- double bass
Kurt Prisbe -- drums
Steven Baker -- laotian mouth organ
Thollem McDonas -- piano, conduction

1- (36 mins.) First half is mostly quiet, with some spare jazzy sax solos in the first eight minutes. Midway, there's a spoken lecture on Portugese colonialism that leads into an intense jazzy segment, then a cooldown stretch. There's one last kick of lonely, squealy sax before a quiet ending.

2- More dynamic, with more riff-oriented and jazzlike segments. Explosive piano takes center stage early on, moving into some amusing noodling, sometimes clownish, sometimes rapid-fire. The 42-minute piece includes some free-jazz jamming and even a riff-based segment or two. The last 15 minutes features some aggressive playing and a free-jazz coda.