Ivo Perelman has produced a powerful body of work on his tenor saxophone that grabs from the outset with its unmitigated forcefulness and shimmering lyricism, all in a free-style framework. Here, the Brazilian performer is backed by the C.T. String Quartet, consisting of virtuoso bassist
Dominic Duval, cellist
Thomas Ulrich, new music violinist
Jason Hwang, and violist Ron Lawrence. Unlike most efforts in which a horn is backed by strings, the C.T. Quartet stuns with dissonance, hard-edged improvisation, and in-your-face invention. While there is never a doubt about who is leading, the Quartet sets the pace with insistent energy.
Perelman takes the challenge and offers some of his best work ever. Divided into eight parts,
The Alexander Suite explores the realm of musical imagination with panache, inspired by the strings. Not to be missed,
The Alexander Suite is a superb example of 1990s avant-music on the cutting edge. ~ Steve Loewy