Vijay Iyer and
Craig Taborn
‘The Transitory
Poems’
ECM
When two fascinating
people converse, a great dialogue can result. The same came be said for a
musical conversation between two exceptional pianists. “The Transitory Poems”
is the result of just such a dialogue between Vijay Iyer and Craig Taborn. The live
piano duo performance took place in
the concert hall of the Franz List Academy of Music in Budapest last year.
All of the compositions here are improvised from start to finish. Though
they lack heads, as well as the catchy melodic themes of songs, wonderful
things can emerge from the musical primordial soup. For instance,
“Meshwork/Libation (When Kabuya Dances)” begins abstractly and proceeds to
build into a complex exploration of rhythm and harmony, showcasing the
symbiotic relationship between the pianists. Other pieces are dedicated to
recently deceased piano greats, including avant-garde
icon Muhal Richard Abrams and Cecil Taylor, who supplied the album’s title.
This article appears in Apr 24-30, 2019.
