Album Notes

Larry Gelberg and Thom Keith met through the world-wide web. Initially, they were trying to form a saxophone quartet, but the collaboration was to happen in other settings later on. This marks the first time the two have appeared in public with a live band, after collaborating on numerous recordings over the past half decade.

Digging a little deeper, it was Larry who informed Thom of the Craigslist ad that eventually led to the formation of Trio Encompas, and by extension, Equal Time. And still later, Avant Coast artists' collective.

This recording features Larry on baritone and tenor saxophones, Thom on baritone and tenor saxophones, Tim Webb on bass, and Jared Steer on drums.

Larry has long been active playing in the Boston area with such groups as The Fabrizi Kern Project, Sambossa, and Booty Vortex. He has studied with Jerry Bergonzi and Miles Donohue, as well as attending the School of Fine Arts at Boston University.

Thom is active in the seacoast region of New Hampshire and Maine, and currently is a member of Trio Encompas, Equal Time and Camera 4, as well as freelancing and co-founder of Avant Coast artists' collective. In the past, he has studied with Richard Gardzina and Jeff Coffin.

Tim is the bassist for Equal Time and Camera 4,as well as one of the busier freelance bassists in the seacoast region. Tim is also the co-founder of Avant Coast artists' collective. Tim has studied with Jamil Nasser and David Holland, and is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire.

Jared is one of the busiest drummers in New Hampshire, playing regularly across genres and managing an impossible travel schedule in the process. Jared has studied with Bob Gullotti.

This recording features compositions by John Coltrane, Mal Waldron and Thom Keith. On the opener, the mood builds slowly with a discussion between the two horns, the rhythm filling in slowly behind them as the theme is stated. What follows is a continued discussion between the two horns, culminating in an all-out shouting match of fiery intensity. While the piece has a Spanish title, it has a decidedly Moroccan feel.

Seagulls is one of Waldron's most beautiful compositions, with it's very deliberate them stated over a patient rhythm. The mood of the tune evokes the scenes of the coast during the winter. After solos by Keith, Gelberg and Webb, the piece ends as patiently as it started.

The Agitator finishes this set, returning to the energy of the opening piece. It features solos by all, as well as collective improvisation by the whole group. The music on this recording is presented as it was recorded, to a Korg D888 using an X,Y mic pattern for the horns and direct mics for the rhythm section. Larry is heard favored in the right channel, Thom in the left.

Discussions is raw, honest, unharnessed creativity. If that's what you enjoy, we -- the musicians -- believe you will appreciate this recording.