For his sophomore effort (his first on a label), New York saxophonist
Glenn White has brought together a wide range of influences and stylistic elements, combining it all into one surprisingly coherent work. The album opens with the title track, a dense piece that takes some cues from
Coltrane's "Giant Steps" motifs, particularly in the piano comping, excellently provided by
Roberta Piket. The album takes a good turn toward the urban with pieces like "Triality," also combining the flute of
Jamie Baum to a degree not common in jazz albums. For
White, the flute appears to act as a melodic lightener when used alone, as well as a harmonic addition, doubling the sax lines from time to time. In "Washington Heights,"
White combines the nightclub style of jazz common to New York with a spaciousness to the composition (largely due to some extra flute used to set the scene), a common element in a lot of jazz produced west of the Mississippi (
White has spent time in both Arizona and Alaska). There's a little more counterpoint and what almost sounds like a quick rondo in "Phobia," some nice soloing all around in "Wish," and a driving rhythm section in "Aftermath" that opens up with the winds in a way that almost evokes
Albert Ayler.
Sacred Machines features a little bit of discord in the instruments, a little bit of complexity in the compositions, a little bit of richness in the sax solos, and a lot of highly intriguing music pumped out by the whole ensemble. With this release,
White proves himself worthy of the jump from self-production to the eclectic but quality-driven OA2 label. ~ Adam Greenberg