{mosimage}Infinity Squared

What happens when you multiply ­limitlessness by infinity? You absolutely do not know. Which is why it’s such a great idea to toss Henry Kaiser and Andrea Centazzo into the same reaction chamber.

As one of the West Coast’s premier freakers for some three decades, Kaiser has made a career of sticking his guitar in unpredictable places, whether with avant extremists such as Bill Laswell and Diamanda Galas, with world/folk border crossers such as David Lindley and Victoria Williams, or as a soundtracker on TV’s Secrets and Mysteries and the Werner Herzog documentary Grizzly Man (with Richard Thompson). Dude’s also an experimental-film-&-lit buff and an ace scuba diver, and grows radioactive coral on Neptune. Meanwhile, over in Euroland, Centazzo has crashed regularly out of his percussion orbit and into visual territory via art video/photography and film scoring, while hanging with some of the same musical crowd with whom Kaiser has hobnobbed — Evan Parker, Steve Lacy, John Zorn. From total abstraction to Asian metallophonics, he’ll fling sticks with passionate sensitivity.

A duo made in heaven. And it turns out they collaborated way back in 1978, even made an album together, but the intercontinental divide has kept them apart till now. It would be impossible to imagine a more fortuitous reunion setting — a small art café with good food, select libations and a Swiss-Italian host named Rocco. Kaiser and Centazzo have a lot of catching up to do, and you get to eavesdrop. Henry Kaiser & Andrea Centazzo at Café Metropol, Friday, July 14, 8 p.m.


Listenables

Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Brotherman in the Fatherland (Hyena). There’s damn good motivation for producer Joel Dorn’s continued crusade to clear the vaults of unreleased Rahsaan: So much of it can make you smile. The late saxist has such fun blowing his ears off at this 1972 Hamburg concert, you think he’ll bust out laughing during his R&B prance through Bread’s cholesterol-choked “Make It With You” and plain levitate during his three Trane tributes. Loose in the best way.

Dan Clucas/Immediately, Exile (pfMentum). Local cornetist Clucas puts the energy back in energy jazz with a moody, deep collaboration showcasing the skilled and sympathetic Brian Walsh (reeds), Noah Phillips (guitar), Michael Ibarra (bass) and Rich West (drums). For people who like music.

Marc Cary, Focus (Motema). Rare is the musician who can be universal without being stupid, and young NYC pianist Cary qualifies. Sensual midtempo coherence, a dollop of Tyner lilt, a certain intensity below the surface of his congeniality — look for him to gather whatever glory jazz permits.

From a Second Story Window, Delenda (Blackmarket/Metal Blade). I never would’ve missed Second Story’s 6/29 Whisky gig with the murderous Cattle Decapitation if I’d heard this earlier. Metallians from Ohio and Pennsylvania switch channels frequently in roaring modern fashion while dragging elements of the soap operas and tennis matches into the cop shows and horror movies to create a Big Picture that’s quite impressive.

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