“Roadsided and Double Toothed is the third Baldi/Gerycz Duo album to come out in two years, featuring Cloud Nothings’ Dylan Baldi and Jayson Gerycz on saxophone and percussion respectively. Recorded just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the album boasts five selections of free jazz from the duo, culled from longer improvisatory sessions. The result is compelling and cohesive as it moves from more lively cuts to the most delicate piece in the duo’s existence.
Baldi’s sax oscillates between the melodic and dissonant, foregrounding Gerycz’s dynamic drumming. Roadsided and Double Toothed is a varied collection with longer songs like “Changeable Grass Veneer” evolving slowly over nearly twelve minutes as opposed to quicker three-to-four minute barnburners like “Friendly Problem” and “Hairstreak.” The album ends with the most quiet of Baldi/Gerycz Duo songs - the subtle, compelling drone track “Implicit Arches,” featuring nuanced diegetic - the actual blowing of air, the sound of a washing machine, and more - and sung bowl percussion in the face of the more pummeling earlier selections. It’s a nice reminder of the duo’s ability to create and play with sparseness - with space. Even in their most hushed moments, Baldi and Gerycz are pushing.”
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Really this album is a masterclass in Hard-Bop, Post-Bop, Spiritual jazz, and soul jazz all wrapped up in a impressively cohesive package.
It pays tribute to those that came before while still keeping an eye to the future/past. ATrott