If avant-garde jazz is up your alley then chances are you'll want to investigate this recording entitled We Need You from a trio known as Dikeman, Barrios and Makihara. Comprised of John Dikeman on tenor sax, Jon Barrios on bass and Toshi Makihara on assorted percussion, We Need You is made up of three untitled, improvised compositions that are anything but your typical standard jazz outing.
I have to tell you right from the first squawks and squeals out of Dikeman's sax and Makihara's complex and eccentric percussive patterns that this is one far out and challenging listening experience. There are definite peaks and valleys as the listener has to crank up the volume to fully absorb some of the albums quieter passages, only to have this calm come to an abrupt halt through an shrill explosion of Dikeman's sax that almost borders on sheer cacophony. Makihara's approach to percussion is also an intriguing one as at times he sounds like he's pounding out his own rhythms on whatever happens to be nearby. There is no standard timekeeping here as he fluctuates around his kit feeding off and supporting Dikeman's soaring flights of fancy.
As mentioned the three compositions that make up We Need You prove to be a demanding listening experience and unless you're a fan of improvised free jazz this music will not appeal to everyone. While it wasn't entirely up my alley I have to admit that I was not only impressed by the abilities of these three talented musicians in general but even more so by their willingness to take these leaps without a net.
Track Listing
1) Untitled
2) Untitled
3) Untilted
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