Recorded live at the Levontin 7 Club in Tel Aviv, “There’s Nothing Better To Do” documents the soulful interplay between saxophone legend Albert Beger and drummer/percussionist Gerry Hemingway. Completely improvised—the duo didn’t even talk about the gig beforehand, let alone map out any rough ideas—this documents a set that in which there are traditional moments mixed with the freeform, the busy with the laconic. Clearly both Beger and Hemingway are versed in many styles, and they cover a lot of emotional as well as tonal ground in these six tracks.
“Staying Alert” offers call and response: chimes and horn then percussion and horn, a spare dance which becomes slightly more atonal, though there are occasional cranky notes interspersed throughout. The eleven minute “Let Go Of Your Mind” builds off of that minimalism before Beger’s tenor leads the duo midway into a wild bop freakout.
“ Butterflies” is a field recording of sorts, with both Beger and Hemingway taking cues from that practically silent but powerful butterfly and using their instruments and voices (or whistles, to be exact) to mimic and pay tribute Two ten minute plus tracks close the outing. “Missing You” is founded on the most soulful drumming on the record, one given free reign to solo before Beger’s soprano kicks in and takes the piece on a more aggressive tangent before Beger adds a beautifully soft coda. The title track is more or less straight bop, though in Beger’s lines there are short, deft expressions of the Cool. Throughout “There’s Nothing Better To Do,” Albert Beger and Gerry Hemingway explore their instruments and their interplay leisurely, but with deep listening. The result is playful but deliberate, and as confident and seamless as any live improv you’re likely to hear.
