Thunda is the second duo release from the gifted and adventurous tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger (the first was Whispers and Cries with pianist Frank Carlberg in 2018). This time his other half is upright bassist Kim Cass, who’s been integral to nearly all of Preminger’s output as a leader since 2015’s Pivot: Live at the 55 Bar. They reach a whole new level of rapport as cowriters, coproducers, and co-engineers of Thunda, a potent blast of peak creativity at just 32 minutes.
On the leadoff track “Slaughter,” on “Roobz,” and throughout, what’s notable is the impossibly difficult unison playing that Preminger and Cass are able to execute. It’s not simply the speed and complexity, but the way in which the lines emerge seemingly out of nowhere in the midst of other material, as if both players are suddenly seized by an urge and they’re off, perfectly in sync. The effect is uncanny. But there’s also more to Thunda than this: Preminger creates layers of tenor, clarinet, and/or flute on most tracks, orchestrating on the go and also displaying a mastery of tonal control in the use of multiphonics and extended techniques. The results are abstract yet melodic and fully formed. “Chron” and “Tradr Hoez” stand out as straight duo performances with no overdubbing.