The association of saxophonist Ivo Perelman and pianist Matthew Shipp spans three decades and continues to yield fresh results. On their latest effort, Armageddon Flower, the two industrious artists match wits with expert string players: violist Mat Maneri and bassist William Parker. The quartet takes full advantage of their instruments’ range and timbres, embracing nonlinear structures that make the music feel both through-composed and spontaneously conceived.
Their free styling remains compelling, emotionally stirring, and artistically inspired — enough to keep listeners’ ears wide open throughout a session that opens with dark textures, despite the uplifting title “Pillar of Light”. It’s difficult to discern whether Perelman’s saxophone is…

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