As evidenced by their bodies of work, catholic guitarist Bill Frisell and free jazz drummer Andrew Cyrille have never shrunk from a challenge. Breaking the Shell presents the latest one: collaborating with British keyboardist Kit Downes, who for this project performs exclusively on the pipe organ. Though not an instrument known for its swing, the massive instrument has its perks – specifically a breadth of sounds and noises that give it a wide range of sonic moods. For Breaking the Shell, Downes, Frisell, and Cyrille find a commonality in drone, as each musician channels their instruments into a forward drift towards a universal tone. Downes breaks out every buzz, purr, and thrum in his keyboard’s arsenal, substituting near-ambient waves for the fleet-fingered classical riffage that most people associate with the pipe organ. Frisell sometimes adds tranquil licks, but often feeds the arrangement a single note, sustained or clipped, as required. Cyrille gently plays around the perceived beat, holding back on his usual crash and burn for an almost subliminal feel. The music floats like smoke on the wind, wafting prettily one moment (“July 2nd”) and glowering darkly the next (“Untitled 2023”). Jazz more by association of its participants than by its sonic vibe, Breaking the Shell slips through the brain like a ghost in the ether.
