It's Magnificent, But It Isn't War

Cold Bleak Heat is the East Coast's maximalist tour de force of spontaneous sound construction. It is a staggering group line-up that raises the eyes and ante. It's Magnificent, But It Isn't War is the debut from a subterranean assembly of today's most active: Connecticut's prevailing operator of the alto/tenor saxophones, Paul Flaherty; the seemingly ten-handed/ footed drummer Chris Corsano (Sunburned Hand of the Man, Six Organs of Admittance); sound sculpting trumpeter Greg Kelley (nmperign, Heathen Shame), who opens into full-force gales during this session; and Earth-boom grounding acoustic bassist Matt Heyner (No Neck Blues Band, Test). From the start Flaherty's combusting, scorched tone burrows into the torrential grooves with a bleating and vivid lyricism that never waivers. His 30+ years of New England horn calling is at its apex with these younger brothers-in-arms. Kelley's melodic fever perfectly balances and derails Flaherty at times with spitfueled pops and mournful runs, like front-running solo of "Is That All You Got?." Cold Bleak Heat is a wake up call to the evolving life of the avant garde.