Uncle Sun (IL1) Recorded 4/18/93

(HS) "Uncle Sun" is pure IL1. The descending drum riff that begins the song wasn't even intended to be part of a song -- I was simply noodling-around during the session. But when Greg immediately launched into the guitar part we both jumped-in feet first with no idea that we were embarking on a remarkable half-hour musical journey. Although "Uncle Sun" covers lots of ground and travels through many twists and turns, it still manages to sound like one cohesive musical idea. The piece has some of the most intense and precise interplay between Greg and myself that we've ever been able to capture on a recording. It's clear that we were both listening to each other extremely closely -- to the point that the piece sounds like it sprung from a single musical mind, which is one hallmark of good improvisation. Close listening also reveals that we allowed ourselves to fully-develop our ideas without cutting them off early, yet we managed not to allow any motif to stay past its expiration date. This is a tricky balancing act to maintain, especially in a piece that lasts a half-hour. Our cutting room floor is littered with pieces that suffer from having ideas that were either undercooked or overcooked; with "Uncle Sun" we managed to get the recipe just right. (The moment in "Uncle Sun" that has always been the most transcendent for me is the beautiful melodic figure that Greg begins at 19:03 -- it's sheer magic.)

(GS) This original version of "Uncle Sun" remains in a special category for me, even though I love both versions from Jugalbandi 1999. This was the first time just the two of us did an IL1, and it's huge, diverse, sprawling, yet organic. Most importantly, it's really satisfying as a piece of music, at least to us. For me, it felt like a barrier had been passed, as though I had moved up a notch creatively. Pieces like this really do make you feel you are part of something unfolding, rather than consciously spinning out the material. I agree with Hyam about it seeming as though we were one mind -- it just sounds like the thing issued forth whole. Hyam's work is really tasteful, creative and dynamic throughout.