Live at the Congregation

by BALANCE

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1.	Breathwork 07:01	buy track
2.	Catch and Release 07:42	buy track
3.	When We Come Home 08:32	buy track
4.	Chorale 06:06	buy track
5.	To the Source 04:10	buy track
6.	Reprise 02:05	buy track
7.	Single Petal of a Rose 03:46	buy track

about

“Live at the Congregation” might, at first glance, feel like a departure for Balance, the piano-saxophone duo from Detroit comprising of Michael Malis and Marcus Elliot. Their previous two releases, both critically acclaimed, feature the piano and saxophone in acoustic settings. “Live at the Congregation” brings these two elements into vastly different territory, with both Elliot and Malis experimenting with electronics. Loops, glitches, synths, and drones permeate this fully-improvised live set.

But in spite of this altered sonic landscape, at its core, “Live at the Congregation” features the same creative language that has ingratiated Balance to audiences throughout its 8-year history. On display here are the “intuitive improvisations” that “stand at the threshold of improvisation and composition” that Balance has been noted for in the past. The resulting performance is an alchemical merger of the acoustic and the electronic. From the initial murmurs of anticipation to the hushed reverence that permeated the venue, each track is imbued with the raw energy of that night.

Malis and Elliot’s creative relationship goes way back — they began playing together when they were in high school, sharing many teachers and mentors, and cementing their relationship with the forming of Balance in 2016. “Live at the Congregation” registers another entry into the sonic log of their friendship — always a conversation, always with give-and-take, and always putting their intuition first.

credits

released April 5, 2024

Marcus Elliot - tenor saxophone, electronics
Michael Malis - keyboards, percussion, electronics
Haruki Hakoyama - mixing and mastering engineer
Leander Hope Lemon - cover art

All compositions were composed by Micahel Malis and Marcus Elliot, except for Single Petal of a Rose, composed by Duke Ellington.

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about

BALANCE Detroit, Michigan

Balance is a collaborative duo between saxophonist Marcus Elliot and pianist Michael Malis. Called “two of Detroit’s most important young jazz musicians” by the Detroit Free Press, Elliot and Malis’ “intuitive improvisations” stand on the threshold of composed and improvised music, creating intimate portraits of musical expression that deal in the language of subtlety. ... more

shows

Jul 20

The Shepherd

Detroit, MI

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