To Be Lucky Once

Peter Zummo “Song II: Left; On The Beat—Variations”

This piece was recorded by Peter Zummo with Arthur Russell, Bill Ruyle and Mustafa Ahmed in 1984, but has been shelved and unreleased until now. The music was recorded live to tape, and is partially improvised – or “an exercise in spontaneous arrangement,” as Zummo put it. The music mostly moves around a bouncy melodic hook played on marimba, and the driving force in the track mainly comes from Russell’s amplified cello, which is just as expressive whether he’s playing rhythmic or lead parts. Zummo himself plays trombone, and his leads are particularly vibrant and sassy. I love the way this all comes together in a way that’s somehow both joyful and contemplative.

Buy it from Bandcamp.