Two Horns, One Electronic Haze
Two veteran horn players meet an electronic musician, and the results divide the critics.
Hints on Light and Shadow arrived in 1997, late in the careers of two players who had already done serious work. Trombonist Julian Priester and saxophonist Sam Rivers were both well established by then, and this record pairs them with electronic musician Tucker Martine. It is not a core entry in either man's discography. It is a side project of sorts, the kind of session that makes sense on paper and then has to justify itself on tape.
Recorded in November 1996, the album is modern and at times free-flowing. Priester and Rivers play with a lot of space, and Martine's electronic backgrounds sit under them, sometimes adding texture and sometimes just filling the room. The acoustic instruments carry the weight. When the horns are in the foreground, the record has real buoyancy, and the interplay can be lively.
The reception is split. AllMusic reviewer Steve Loewy argued the two players seem to improvise around each other rather than with each other, which is the central problem with the record. The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings called it disappointing, saying the electronics sometimes disguise emptiness at the center. Glenn Astarita, writing for All About Jazz, was more generous, praising its clear-sightedness. If you are a committed fan of either player, it is worth hearing. If you are new to them, start with their more conventional work.
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