Somnambule - Writing About Music

Dual Pleasure 2 ~ Ken Vandermark & Paal Nilssen-Love

Paal Nilssen-Love has gained widespread attention as drummer with Atomic, The Thing, Scorch Trio and his series of duet albums of which this is the latest, while Ken Vandermark plays in more ensembles than it seems possible to name in a single breath. The saxophonist here traverses the spectrum between transcendent as he tests his limits in squealing spirals and distressed as he expels shuddering, lower register moans. Nilssen-Love’s playing is attentive, proactive and incredibly precise as if each split-second decision were made with Occam’s razor. Dual Pleasure 2 is a frequently bracing experience whose energy invites surrender to the intuitive flow and brilliant, impassioned detail of the duo’s performance. At other times, the music is a remarkably beautiful succession of haunted sighs, whirrs and breaths. Turned up loud and with closed eyes it’s difficult not to be engulfed in the waves of information imparted by these two stellar players.
Colin Buttimer
December 2004
Published by Jazzwise magazine