I wrote this review for jazzreview.com. Click here to read it on that site. You will have to scroll down some.

Frode Gjerstad Trio Ultima (Cadence Jazz Records, 1999)
Reviewed by Micah Holmquist
March 1, 2000

Frode Gjerstad (alto sax),
William Parker (acoustic bass),
Hamid Drake (drums)

Ultima is a must buy if you missed the Frode Gjerstad Trio on their tour of Canada and the United States and have an interest in adventurous jazz. If you saw the unit, I am sure you will agree with my sentiments.

In 1997, Norwegian saxophonist Frode Gjerstad received a grant that allowed him to pick any two musicians of his choice for a tour of Norway. Gjerstad chose bassist William Parker and drummer Hamid Drake - two legends in the world of avant-garde jazz. Ultima consists of one track from an October 7, 1997 performance by the trio at the Ultima Festival in Oslo, Norway. The cut runs roughly 58 and a half minutes and takes willing listeners on an exciting trip.

When they play together, these three musicians rarely spend a lot of time planning their performance. They also eschew the conventional solo and accompaniment format in favor of forms that allow each musician to add to the whole whenever they feel inspired to do so. This is a wonderful situation for Drake as he is able to convey a sense of rhythm through performances that unskilled or inattentive listeners might mistake for a solo. Parker posses a similar ability to mesh solid bass patterns with explorations that go beyond the typical role of the bass. But Parker is equally likely to eschew the typical rhythmic role in favor of tangents that would be more conventional if they were coming from a horn or the keys. In contrast, Gjerstad takes on a more conventional and typical role with his playing. His solos spiral in all sorts of directions and contain more than a taste of restlessness and humor. A darker tone also comes out as Gjerstad occasionally leads all three players down the path of dissonance.

Rather than demanding a listener’s full attention, Ultima seems to require it. It is hard to imagine a person listening to this disc halfheartedly as the music comes wrapped in several layers of detail and sophistication. Furthermore the very length of the single piece means that you have devote a sizable chunk of time in order to get to the end - or at least to be able to give the ending any real meaning. This quality will probably reduce the number of spins that this recording gets from any listener. This is unfortunate although understandable. Yet the music works on a highly visceral level if you take the time. It comes out and enchants the willing listener by giving a glimpse of unbridled creativity.

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