12 Milagritos by John Butcher / Gino Robair / Matt Sperry

CD released on Spool in 1998.
John Butcher - tenor & soprano saxes
Gino Robair - percussion, bows & motors, ebow snare, faux dax
Matthew Sperry - bass & preparations

"Saxophonist John Butcher never ceases to amaze me. His rigorous exploration of his instrument's capabilities has borne fruit in a style that is unique and instantaneously identifiable.
For 12 Milagritos, he is joined by two like-minded American players, drummer/percussionist Gino Robair and bassist Matthew Sperry. The results are as strong as anything he has done with his usual partners (Chris Burn, Phil Durrant etc).
Robair and Sperry are attuned to the spirit of Butcher's mode of exploration. They both coax unusual sounds out of their instruments: Sperry through arco techniques and preparing his instrument and Robair through (what sounds like) an expanded drum kit (sounds like there are a lot of small percussive instruments) and with subtle scrapes and tweaks. But there is also a true communion amongst these three.
The improvisations are measured but also well-directed. And there are moments when all three merge into one: the end of Ave when Butcher pitches a high-end harmonic, Sperry is bowing at the upper end of his instrument and Robair is scraping harmonics by bowing his cymbal. Also at the end of Codo which starts with Butcher making small pecking sounds but ends with all three musicians making long broad strokes. It's about as "perfectly formed" as four minutes can get in free improvisation. 12 Milagritos is a worthy addition to Butcher's discography and is well worth checking out."
Robert lannapollo - Opprobrium, 1998.

Improviser, Composer, Saxophonist.
Born in Brighton.
Lives in London.

johnbutcher.org.uk