On Aliens Deliberating, bass clarinetist Joris Roelofs already showed influences from Dutch free jazz. Illustrious Dutch names such as the and resounded on this 2014 album, in whimsical playing and an absurdist musical approach. Not surprising, but special is now his duo album with drummer Han Bennink, the last living founder of the still active ICP Orchestra. Bennink is also an internationally
… renowned jazz drummer with his expressionistic but always grooving playing. On Icarus, Roelofs in his thirties is lovingly guided by Bennink in his seventies. Without further guidance, it goes in all directions, from soundscapes with a high squeaky-grunt content to arrangements of pieces by (with whom Bennink played) and . Song For Che ( ) even goes back to the original political content of free jazz. However, this music is no longer revolutionary, but Icarus is a pleasant cross-talk. (MR)more