Adam Larison, an American, Illinois-based, classically-trained guitarist and educator, is a passionate advocate for innovative, progressive, and inclusive music education. He is the director of the University of Illinois Springfield Camerata. Lairson plays with fellow Illinois-based free jazz drummer and percussionist Richard Gilman-Opalsky in the Freedom Therapy Trio (with sax player and flutist Brian Stark). Gilman-Opalsky is a professor at the School of Politics and International Affairs at the same university. His research focuses on the history of political philosophy, Continental and contemporary social theory, Marxism, capitalism, autonomist politics, postmodern philosophy, critical theory, global social movements, and feminist philosophy.

Ancient Universalities is the debut, free improvised duo album of these lesser-known but seasoned improvisers, who have been playing together since 2022. The album features four extended pieces that highlight the spontaneous and conversational, tasteful yet unassuming free associative dynamics of Larison and Gilman-Opalsky. The music of these kindred spirits flows, as the first improvisation is titled «Ancient like Water», and the last improvisation is called «Camaraderie and Empathy». Gently and patiently, they gravitate toward instant compositions.

The second piece, «A picture within a picture within a picture», and the last one are the most adventurous here, exploring the fragile timbres of the drum skins, cymbals, guitar strings, and the wooden body, slowly cultivating stimulating, rhythmic tension. These pieces best capture this duo’s exploratory aesthetics, borrowing a lesson from hip-hop producer Hank Shocklee (who has worked with Public Enemy): «This thing you call music is much broader than you think it is» (as quoted by Larison).

Eyal Hareuveni

Adam Larison (guitar), Richard Gilman-Opalsky (drums, percussion)