Over the Edge

A duo album between iron-willed drummer Tom Destano and the exhilarating tenor saxophonist Bob Magnuson, these ten tracks are aptly described by the saxophonist as reflecting "raw emotions, primal screams, and primitive connections to our souls." Destano and Magnuson performed privately together for a few years, and the results are two highly compatible improvisers who anticipate each other's moves and produce energy music of high quality. Comparisons to John Coltrane and Rashied Ali are inevitable; while these much shorter slices (ranging from four to 11 minutes) are more focused, the sustained intense creative thrusts are not as compelling. Still, Magnuson is a major player with a substantial vocabulary, and DeSteno helps to spur him on. Many might find the limited instrumentation a bit wearying, especially at a single sitting, but there is as much variety throughout as can be expected in this genre. Magnuson, in particular, is a fluid soloist, with a strong command of his horns and an ability to transcend inherent boundaries.