Paul Flaherty, "Whirl of Nothingness"

There's a paucity of solo horn discs out there that aren't severely punishing on the head. The focus on a single instrument (even one as versatile and open to exploitation as the sax) over 54 minutes in the majority of hands turns into a form of auditory abuse.

 

 
Family Vineyard

Featuring just Flaherty and his alto / tenor saxophones (nothing extraneous but a very mild echo), its only when there are tiny gaps in the eight pieces that it becomes apparent  the world out there is still turning.

This lonely voice and its turbulent attempts at communication are incredibly immersive and involving, songs flitting between angry tirades, unconnected effects less distorted rambling and simple gorgeous horn parts.This is the only LP necessary for proof that solo improvised sax is more than just skronking. Flaherty isn’t regarded the best around on the basis of primogeniture; he is busting heads open on account of his skill.

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