Mitchell, Matt – “Fiction” – [Pi Recordings]

Cousin Mary   9/12/2013   CD, Jazz

These pieces were conceived by pianist Mitchell as etudes so he could practice combining composition and improvisation. Then percussionist Ches Smith began to join him when he was warming up for live gigs. The result is mostly very percussive, tangentially related to 12-tone contemporary classical, often annoying and occasionally lovely, sometimes at the same time. Liked it a bit on first listen, liked it much more on second and third hearings. Very unique.