I first encountered saxophonist Chris Pitsiokos in what might be termed an unorthodox setting: in a duo with Philip White, whose main instrument is the no-input mixing board. The duo has made two compelling recordings, Paroxysm (Carrier, 2015) and Collapse (Anticausal Systems, 2018), forging an uncanny accord between Pitsiokos’s elemental lyricism and White’s eerie unpredictability. Collapse wound up on my year-end list of 2018’s most noteworthy recordings.
One Foot on the Ground Smoking Mirror Shakedown, the new album by Pitsiokos with his working band, CP Unit, features the saxophonist in a more conventional setting, playing alongside electric guitarist Sam Lisabeth, Henry Fraser on electric bass, and drummer Jason Nazary. But that’s not to suggest there’s anything routine about what transpires, especially since those players bring to bear an aggregate of experience from work with trailblazing, barn-burning artists and combos like Guerilla Toss, Little Women, Brandon Seabrook, and Jaimie Branch. Together, these musicians strike a pitch-perfect balance of individuality and accord, conjuring an arresting mix of funky, bluesy electric jazz, noise rock, and more.
One Foot on the Ground Smoking Mirror Shakedown is scheduled to arrive Feb. 21 on the Ramp Local label, and one of the album’s four tracks, “One Foot on the Ground,” is available now for streaming on Bandcamp and other major platforms. A second track, “Orelius,” arrives this Friday, Jan. 17… but, thanks to Pitsiokos and Ramp Local, National Sawdust Log is pleased and privileged to provide exclusive advance access to “Orelius”—right here, right now.
Asked to describe his composition, Pitsiokos offered the following thoughts via e-mail:
“Orelius” is composed of two overlapping melodies in different tempi, played by the drums and bass on the one hand and the guitar and saxophone on the other. Like most of CP Unit’s oeuvre, the written material only serves as a starting point for extemporization, but within the structure of the piece lies the metaphorical imperative of the work: seemingly contrasting, disparate, individualized material can coexist and assert a singular unison spirit. An aggregate of individuated voices is always stronger than an aggregate of similitude. It is my belief that this is true not only in music, but also in other forms of artistic expression, politics, economy, and society at large.
One Foot on the Ground Smoking Mirror Shakedown, due Feb. 21 on Ramp Local, is available to preorder now on Bandcamp. Chris Pitsiokos and CP Unit will celebrate the album’s arrival at Roulette on Feb. 27 at 8pm, in a concert that also includes two Pitsiokos compositions for strings and electronics; visit the Roulette website for details.