The Fury: Live in Brooklyn

GIANT STEP ARTS GSA 15. (RECORDED AUGUST 2023)

Don’t be fooled by the name of this group. It is far from the dictionart definition of fury — intense, disordered and full of destructive rage. According to guitarist Lage Lund, the music of this collective tends more to the reflective, prioritizing group interplay and development while still leaving room for the members’ individuality. The members Lund refers to are saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Tyshawn Sorey. Although some of these musicians have worked together in various combinations, this is their debut recording as a performing unit. Live in Brooklyn has The Fury working through seven originals penned by band members as well as one from Myron Walden. The tunes, which vary from the up-tempo “Like a Flower Seeking The Sun” to the balladry of “Of Our Time” and the pastoral mood of “Vignette” to the funky feel of “Couch,” seem to be nothing more than jagged fragments of melodies held together by extended solos and rhythms that never stop for a breath. Sadly, it just doesn’t work for me. However, things finally gel on the final track — “Sonnet for Stevie” — which begins with a well-executed bass solo and staggered entrances from Sorey, Lund and Turner. There is no question that individually these four musicians are masters at what they do. Unfortunately, this live recording for The Fury may not be the best vehicle for them to do just that. Hoping to hear what they are capable of in a studio setting.

BOTTOM LINE: Guitarist Lage Lund, saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Matt Brewer and drummer Tyshawn Sorey have made a name for themselves on the contemporary international jazz scene. They come together on Live in Brooklyn as The Fury, but the results are not as strong as some of their earlier individual efforts.