behind closed doors

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London-based improvising saxophonist Simon Rose and I got together one afternoon to play freely.  Two alto saxophonists blowing their asses off simultaneously has the potential to be nauseating, but this encounter was really intuitive and refreshing.  We played completely free, a total improvisation without any set parameters or compositional ideas.  I like to do this  sort of thing with musicians I first meet, it’s like a handshake of sorts – you get to feel each other out on a whole other deeply personal level.  Afterward, I left the room feeling like a huge weight was lifted off my chest.  It’s kinda like therapy – music therapy for improvisers!

Listening back on the recording, it sounds like there are more than just two saxophonists playing at once.  I think that was the coolest part of this experience – bending reality so to speak.

simon rose – alto sax
curtis macdonald – alto sax