Murmuration

MAHAKALA MUSIC 082 (RELEASED FEBRUARY 7, 2025)

When jazz musicians of any era and style get together, they unknowingly use a concept defined as murmuration to navigate the complexities of collective improvisation. Simply stated, murmuration is the term ornithologist use to describe how a group of starlings can fly together in one of the most dazzling synchronized displays in the natural world. They have no leader and follow no predetermined plan, only observing others in the flock to determine their actions. So, what better name for a recording than Murmuration. The flock on this recording is a coming together of musicians from the East Coast and Midwest including Dave Sewelson on baritone, Gabby Fluke Mogul on violin, George Cartwright on alto and guitar, Anthony Cox on bass and Steve Hirsh on drums. The result is nine tunes that demonstrate how, like starlings, these “birds” can twist and turn into all kinds of different shapes as they soar to musical heights. On the opening track, “Thieving Magpies,” members of this musical flock assemble one by one as they intuitively communicate to create a fluttering assemblage of notes and rhythms. On other tunes, smaller groups emerge to change the direction of the music. On “Mississippi Flyway,” for example, Cartwright on guitar, Fluke-Mogul and Cox take the lead with a modern chamber-like sound of the New York String Trio. Sewelson and Cartwright on alto recall the flights of the World Saxophone Quartet on the opening of “Out of Here,” a tune that also has an inspired duo section featuring Sewelson and Hirsh. Fluke-Mogul and Cox fly high on the opening of “Warbling Universe.” An in-the-moment call and response section between Sewelson and Fluke-Mogul changes the direction of “Murmuration.” The session is full of little surprises along the way as well, like when Fluke-Mogul quotes “Happy Birthday” on “Out of Here!” She is filling the void left by Leroy Jenkins and Billy Bang. Throughout it all, Hirsh’s fluid and flexible drumming captures the fluttering of the wings as the flock slides into their different formations. Mahakala Music assembled this group er for one reason — to fly together in a dazzling synchronized display of melodies, rhythms and sounds. And that, quite simply is what Murmuration is all about.

BOTTOM LINE: This is not smooth jazz, but this group of modern-thinking musicians moves smoothly through nine freely improvised compositions. This is not bebop, but this group is always full of musical surprises. This is not cool jazz, but the sounds are often chamber-like in their approach. So, what is Murmuration? Like the word itself, It is the essence of what makes jazz jazz — a group of musicians gathering to see where their sonic flights may take them.