ALEX COKE / TINA MARSH / STEVE FELD: It’s Possible
Vox Lox, 2009

AVANT-GARDE – This trio out of Austin, TX comprises voice, a variety of woodwinds (mostly flutes) West African multi-toned slit drum and toys. Several tracks are improvised over other recordings we do not hear (on #2 they are all listening to the record but not to each other!); tracks 4-7 are a suite in honor of Steve Lacy. Marsh’s vocals stretch and twist like taffy, laced with whispered syllables, and the instruments provide a timeless, often ritualistic “world music” feel.

[ADDENDUM: I wasn't aware of the fact when I reviewed this, but Tina Marsh passed away in June 2009.]

* * * * | Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 14, 15

1. 4:04 – poetry: vocals soar and whisper over relaxed rhythmic undulation
2. 4:12 – sax honks; quiet vocal syllables and lonely tones; busy drum pattern
3. 4:05 – Ornette Coleman classic is haunted, windswept, weird & spooky!
4. 4:47 – rhythmic droplets, squeaky flute ambiance, tiny vocal fragments
5. 3:31 – voice interplay w/ strange skritching noises; playful flute, rises/falls
6. 4:02 – circular flute patterns buzz angrily around steady drum tones
7. 4:00 – sax moans and frets over spacious drum patterns
8. 3:45 – Mingus: fragile vocal wavers over kaen (Asian free-reed) melody
9. 2:54 – mysterious sound: high vocals over low wind tones, relaxed drum
10. 3:34 – old spiritual tune with spiraling flute & sweet-toned vocal
11. 4:27 – repetitive sax honks lead into squeals over minimal drum
12. 4:07 – slow & strange: long, breathy tones, creeping drum; 2nd half faster
13. 3:58 – terrible show tune/standard; almost interesting when done this way
14. 4:38 – percussion flops like a fish on a table; sax melody/screeches
15. 5:02 – acrobatic flute, wordless vocal, calm drum against a tolling bell

[ Fo ] 12/26/09