PAKT - Live in Piermont (December 18, 2021) (2024) [Official Digital Download]

This mid-December 2021 run by PAKT (Percy Jones, Alex Skolnick, Kenny Grohowski, Tim Motzer) was only our second tour together amongst the crazy schedules of all the members. Although a short tour, we all had a blast, and somewhere in there we recorded a studio album in the Catskills too. We traveled in two cars and took in some amazing landscapes amidst great conversation. Some epic shows come to mind like Buffalo, Cleveland, and Rochester but the final show at The Turning Point had a special beautiful vibe, and I felt we hit a lot of fresh new musical territory. Of course, with the threat of Covid closing venues and ending tours, it seemed we’d just made it in time as this was the last show. When we pulled up to the venue, we were not sure if the gig would happen or not. After this night everything went into lockdown again. It was a crazy moment.

We had such a great audience in this intimate room who were eating up our music and cheering us on to greater heights. It was such a pleasure. This band reached some mind-blowing places with such focused intention, and telepathic playing. We all listen deeply into the music and each other. It’s the only way into the zone. As an improvising band, PAKT has a rare cohesion. This music is our music, 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5.

I can’t say enough about the bass playing of Percy Jones. A legend. He is so incredibly inventive with the ability to tilt the entire harmonic fabric of the music and his bass lines are always unique, never predictable, just pure Percy. Listen to his lines in Ascent Southwest 6. His reharmonization of the chord sequence, and his melody at one point conjures the sound of saxophone phrasing. Quite astounding. Alex Skolnick shreds guitar like no other. Listen to his soloing in The Turning Point—just amazing streams of notes and music come pouring forth from him. He can play anything. We are both Libras and I guess that’s why we complement each other so well. It’s some sort of magic. We answer phrases and adapt moods and modes! I am a kind of painter, or orchestral guitarist, and soloist in this band creating textural sound worlds, layers, and abstract chords in the search for structure, progressions, and sparks. Drummer Kenny Grohowski throughout is burning and inventing effortlessly, and always plays incredible rhythms. His playing can go anywhere and does with dynamic shadings, finesse, grace, and mastery. The rhythm section of Percy and Kenny is unlike anything on this planet—really!

But I digress—there is so much great music from this concert, and again, as we explore the unknown many pieces come out fully formed—or congeal into something extraordinary. A few that come to mind from this night are Tappan Landing, Search Party, Ascent Southwest 6, and Sirens. We travel to different lands. Sometimes I feel taking a chance is like walking across an ice bridge. But we all do it. Once we are in the vibe, the idea of pulling something out of thin air is just flow, or perhaps, it is more about channeling. Forms, progressions, sound densities, group improvisation seemingly just happen at such a high level. PAKT nurtures its significant chemistry and solid camaraderie in the quest of getting the ship into uncharted areas of wonder. Breathtaking at times, listening back it’s hard to believe some of this music wasn’t pre-composed, but that’s how it went down. It happened many times during this night. Afterwards, we wondered what happened. We were thankful that there were lovely people there to witness it, and we hope you will enjoy this recording as much as we did playing on that final night of our tour. – Tim Motzer, Fishtown, Feb 2023

PERCY JONES - Wal fretless 5 string bass, sampler, electronics
ALEX SKOLNICK - guitar, electronics
KENNY GROHOWSKI - drums, metals, percussion
TIM MOTZER - acoustic-electric guitar, baritone guitar, bow, electronics

Tracklist:
1. Tappan Landing (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (13:44)
2. Search Party (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (16:43)
3. Pressure Level (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (11:01)
4. Ascent Southwest 6 (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (17:11)
5. The Turning Point (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (16:44)
6. Swamp Church (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (12:12)
7. Sirens (Live in Piermont, December 18, 2021) (11:53)


Thanks to the Original customer!