Live Forever, Vol. 2: Horvitz, Morris, Previte Trio (NYC, Leverkusen 1988​-​1989)

Despite a fruitful dialogue with fellow downtown jazz icon John Zorn, keyboardist Wayne Horvitz’s other work from the ‘80s has fallen out of favor. But he was one of the more adventurous players of the scene, firmly rooted in tradition (see his Sonny Clark tribute band) yet willing to (gasp) add synthesizers and electronics to his repertoire. His excellent trio with drummer Bobby Previte and loft jazz legend Butch Morris was criminally under-recorded at the time yielding one studio album and half of an album highlighting Robin Holcomb’s compositions, so this live set of the group from the late ‘80s is illuminating. Spare and squelchy, cagey yet playful, Horvitz’s percussive DX-7 work offset is by his big, swelling organ tones. Morris’ horn work is achingly beautiful throughout and together they turn a previously concise “Remind Me of You” into a poignant tour de force.