Farmers by Nature: Love and Ghosts

The success of free improvisation is generally down to whatever resources the musicians bring to the stage and the balance they manage to strike – between each other and between order and chaos. Farmers by Nature, a trio of eminent American jazz musicians, strike those balances perfectly: drummer Gerald Cleaver drives the group from below with imagination; pianist Craig Taborn shapes the music from above, dropping fresh harmonic and melodic ideas into open space; and subtly giving the music purpose and direction from the centre is veteran free bassist William Parker. Recorded live at two 2011 concerts in France, Farmers by Nature's third release confirms their status as one of the leading free ensembles working today. For the open of mind and adventurous of ear, there are oceanic depths here. aumfidelity.com