Deep Jazz Roots from Amsterdam

I enjoyed the Instant Composers Pool's second set at An Die Musik last night. This 10-piece ensemble has nice range and some great leadership/chemistry from pianist Misha Mengelberg. Drummer Han Bennink is also a significant attraction. I was also impressed with the arrangements and chops of saxophonist Michael Moore.

ICP has developed a nice balance of composition and group improvisation techniques. The sonic texture of the hour-plus set covered a lot of ground as different configurations of the wind, strings and rhythm sections showcased various smaller ensembles contained within the full orchestra. And even as the group ranged from exaggerated, dramatic hand gestures drawing from game-theory improvisation approaches to smart arrangements of familiar tunes by Thelonius Monk, Raymond Scott and Hoagy Carmichael there was never a feeling that this ensemble was searching for something that would eventually stick. If anything, this ensemble makes clear the beautiful continuity that seamlessly links contemporary free improvisation to full century of jazz traditions. The fractured story telling from Misha Mengelberg between numbers simply added another layer of charm to the overall experience.