3 out of 5

Label: Astral Sprits / Monofonus Press

Produced by: Bill Harris (track 2), Dave Zuchowski (track 1), recorded by

The highs and lows of improv result in a half-awesome listen, with the success of the peaks edging out the more wandering bits significantly enough to make it a worthwhile listen.

Some of the “fun” of improvisation is undoubtedly lost upon those like me: casual listeners.  Those more schooled in ebbs and flows might ‘hear’ the inventiveness of the musical organism, and I also imagine seeing the players live has a fair impact.  As recorded, this piano / drums / sax trio find some grand moments together within each of this disc’s two tracks.  On track one, To Play Is The Thing, it happens twice, and overall, this track is the winner of the two: all three players feel like they weave together organically for a great blast of sound.  It… sort of rattles down at about the 18 minute mark for a hard stop before going in a different direction, which stifles the track’s steam, but reading the notes on the bandcamp page sheds some light on that and matches what our ears hear: two out of three dudes think the song is ending, but one dude keeps barreling along, and eventually the other two catch up again.  It’s interesting, but this is that aforementioned high and low: the natural vibe and build, and then it becomes forced.  Separated as two songs might’ve made a difference, but as one, it loses my attention in that second portion, despite its eventual bombast.

Track two takes a lot longer to get to the punch, and recorded as a separate session, we’re losing whatever steam was built up during session one, so it’s very much starting over.  Sequentially, I might’ve put this first: there’s an awful lot of pitter patter to start, where it feels like each player is getting a feel for things.  Past the halfway mark they start to play more in sync and it becomes a thrilling thrash-fest once again.

Like a lot of such recordings, once you’re aware of the general pace, it’s a lot more enjoyable.  Indeed, a few times through Throw Tomatoes had me bopping my head along the whole way, accepting of / appreciating those moments where our skilled players are finding their ways to some awesome grooves.