Peter Van Huffel's Callisto - Meandering Demons (Clean Feed, 2024)

By Paul Acquaro

It's a moon, a myth, and something new from saxophonist Peter van Huffel ... it's Callisto. Comprised of the Berlin based Canadian Van Huffel, who adds electronics in addition to his hearty baritone sax, along with fellow Berlin / Canadian musician trumpeter Lina Allemano, drummer Joe Hertenstein, and pianist (and electronics player) Antonis Anissegos, the bass-less trio of Callisto is a departure from the heavy breathing of Van Huffel's other outfit, Gorilla Mask, and a foray into acoustic-electronic composition and improvisation. 

Worry not Gorilla Mask fans, strident rhythms still abound, but they may decay a bit sooner than expected, or be transmogrified by electronics in subtle - and not so subtle - ways. The opening track 'Meandering Demons' starts with van Huffel and Allemano playing a highly syncopated head, while Hertenstein adds additional urgency to the agitated melody. A slightly electronically altered piano provides a metallic-tasting bass line and then Van Huffel begins a taut solo, accented by the effected piano tones. Then Allemano joins, her trumpet piercing the musical momentum. The players head down different paths, each exploring different ideas, but the musical quilt hangs together by the fascinating threads that all pull back to the original melody - the meanderers re-united.

'Ravenous Hound,' the next tune, expands on the group's many techniques and timbres. An extended passage by Allemano and Hertenstein find the trumpeter delivering feisty lines over the drummer's insistent pulse. Splashy cymbals follow Van Huffel into his solo, which is then punctuated by Anissego's electronically augmented bursts of notes. 'Glass Sanctuary,' too, explores new musical modes. Legato single note phrases from the piano, sax and drums are given electronic sonic padding that eventually come together into a colossal structure created out of sheer atmosphere. New melodic ideas emerge, permeating the air in a focused direction, the shading and shavings of the electronics shape the acoustics in ever changing ways.

It is tempting to do a track-by-track but that would detract from the fun you should have checking out this excellent recording by Callisto. So, let's end with a quick impression of the closing track 'Barrel of Monkeys': it's excellent. Here the interplay between van Huffel and Allemano is front and center, lurching with intensity, shimmering chords from Anissegos and persistent and interesting rthymic ideas from Hertenstein, propping them up even more.