Tenor saxophonist Ivo Perelman and trumpeter Nate Wooley continue to surprise and delight with Polarity 2, the sequel to their duo record of the same name. On the seven spontaneous compositions (all titled numerically) captured here, Perelman usually takes the lead, utilizing his soulful tone (and sometimes his voice) to swirl around like a plastic bag in a windstorm, never alighting anywhere for too long, in a manner that becomes hypnotic – even dreamy. Wooley provides a harsher counterpoint, the sharpness of his horn giving his pal’s lyricism something to fight against. It’s not a savage throwdown, however – these veteran improvisers know each other’s thought processes well enough that the discordance comes from play-fighting, not actual violence. In fact, by the time we get to “Six,” the duel has become a dance, verging on whirling dervish, with each player blending deftly blending grace and aggression – just two old friends united by talent and a taste for adventure.
