Vyacheslav Ganelin is best-known as leader of
the Ganelin Trio -- a free jazz ensemble with the saxophonist Vladimir Chekasin and the drummer Vladimir Tarasov that, against all odds, created music of great originality and authenticity in the former Soviet Union. Here Ganelin plays solo, giving some insight as to why
the Trio sounded at times like a much larger band. Ganelin is a ferociously inventive pianist, to be sure, but he's not just a pianist; he sets up a nearly full drum kit within reach of his right hand as he sits at the piano, and augments his freely improvised fantasias with percussive accents. He also uses digital synthesizers and a computer as components of what he intends to be an orchestral approach. The results are somewhat mixed, but always interesting. The Korg and Proteus synthesizers he uses on this date are relics of the 1980s. He integrates them quite naturally, but it's hard to overlook the patent artificiality of the instruments, especially the string patches. The synths date the music, placing it firmly in a specific time and place. Of course, Ganelin is just using the best tools at his disposal, so one really can't fault his intent. And his ambition is commendable. But the problem with using the latest artificial sounds is that they fall so quickly by the wayside, in favor of something newer and better. Contrast this with his acoustic work, which is utterly modern and timeless. Ganelin is a consummately skilled pianist, but more than that, he's a master improviser. His playing exhibits great drive; his rhythms are unpredictable. Every note is fraught with contingency. One gets the sense that Ganelin's liable to go in any direction at any time. Such spontaneity is at the heart of the best free jazz. The pieces here may ramble at times, but Ganelin's audacious creative ambition and powerful imagination wins one over in the end. ~ Chris Kelsey