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Troy Collins | Lancaster, PA United States | 10/25/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Former West Coast based composer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum recently reformed his imposing Hieroglyphics Ensemble on the East Coast with a combination of transplanted west coast natives and New York stalwarts. A leading light of the west coast jazz scene at the start of the 1990s, not much has been heard from Peter Apfelbaum since moving east to NYC. Some of his former Hieroglyphics have recently made the same exodus and together with the cream of the Downtown East Village scene have a new version of this ensemble that is both larger and more impressive than Apfelbaum's previous projects.



Having first gained wide exposure on Don Cherry's 1990 "Multikulti," Apfelbaum and his world music influenced ensemble released two masterful albums for Antilles in the early 90s; 1991s "Signs of Life" and 1992s "Jodoji Brighness." Since then Apfelbaum has released but one solo album with his sextet, 1996s "Luminous Charms" and made a handful of appearances on John Zorn's own Tzadik label, appearing on tributes to Zorn's Masada Ensemble. It Is Written finds Apfelbaum back in familiar territory with a massive group of both transplanted and native New Yorkers backing him up.



For those unfamiliar with Apfelbaum's ethnic variations, there are Latin rhythms, Middle Eastern modalities, Indian raga drones, Reggae beats, free jazz energy, loose funk vamps and polyrhythms galore. With twenty-six musicians at his command, Apfelbaum leads an ensemble that is anywhere from nine to fifteen members strong, as different combinations are used throughout the album. Electric guitars commingle with a batterie of percussionists, and the horn section alone boasts no less than ten members. Despite the number of improvisers present Apfelbaum seems more content to allow the pieces to speak for themselves, rather than pepper them with endless solos. These are highly arranged and intricate structures with numerous time changes, harmonic variables, dynamic shifts and constantly varying soloists. Opting to allow more solo room for more individuals, the pieces tend toward short, spotlight features for the players, as opposed to long, epic showcases. A case in point is "Apparition/Projectiles" the album's fourteen minute centerpiece. Running through a gamut of stylistic idioms and varied rhythmic shifts, this suite-like composition features numerous soloists, but none overstay their welcome. Original member Tony Jones proves his acerbic tenor has lost none of its fire in the past decade. Trombonist Josh Roseman contributes a pair of short solos, one delicate and lyrical and the other a brash tailgating call to arms, complete with slide trumpet virtuoso Steven Bernstein riding hot on his heels. The leader contributes a number of short solos over the course of the record, but not at the expense of the group dynamic, this is album is far more concerned with the written line versus the improvised passage.



While a majority of the pieces, despite their sectional construction, operate on a mid-tempo groove, there are more subdued pieces as well. The title track is a somber, elegiac meditation, while the soulful Malian vocals of Abdoulaye Diabate elevate the pieces he is featured on to a breezy, meditative plane. "Song of the Signs" has an almost folksy pop song feel to it, made all the more implicit by the appearance of a guest guitar solo courtesy of Phish's Trey Anastasio, with whom Apfelbaum accompanied during Anastasio's solo tour.



Despite the hiatus, Apfelbaum and his most celebrated ensemble are back in action and have lost none of their initial fire. For those unfamiliar with Apfelbaum's brand of multi-ethnic styled gumbo, It Is Written makes a for a perfect entry point, especially since the Antilles albums are now unfortunately out of print."